New sellers preparing for post-election property market surge - claim

There has been a 22.9% increase in the number of new homes hitting the market across Britain compared with the start of the year, research has revealed.

Home Sale Pack, which compiled the analysis, suggests sellers are looking to get ahead of the competition before any potential market boom following the result of the General Election on 4 July.

It analysed the number of homes to have been listed for sale in the past 14 days and how this influx of for sale stock compares with the first two weeks of the year.

The research shows that there are a total of 810,353 homes currently listed for sale across Britain - 22.3% more when compared to January of this year.

Of these, 102,035 have been listed in the past two weeks alone, a 22.9% increase when compared to the 83,033 sellers that entered the market at the start of the year.

In fact, every region of Britain has seen an increase in the number of sellers arriving to the market ahead of the upcoming General Election.

Scotland has seen the largest increase, with 5,060 homes listed over the last two weeks, a 36.4% increase in new for sale stock versus January. 

The South West has seen a 32.2% increase in the number of new sellers entering the market, while Wales (29%), the South East (24%), and London (23%) have also seen an above average increase in new stock.

The South East and London have also seen the largest increase in the actual number of new homes entering the market, recording 17,521 and 13,821 new listings over the past 14 days.

The North East has seen the smallest increase in new homes hitting the market, but even still, 12.6% more homes have been listed for sale in the last 14 days versus the start of the year.

Ruth Beeton, co-founder of Home Sale Pack, said: “Summer is traditionally a busy time of year for the UK property market and with a recent return to form following a period of muted activity, it looks to be a summer of greater stability for homebuyers and sellers.

“While the General Election isn’t expected to impact overall market health, there will be a segment of buyers sitting tight in anticipation of some form of election cost saving initiative - with Stamp Duty looking the most likely.”

Beeton suggested that a number of sellers are getting their house in order ahead of polling day to take advantage of any post-election surge in market activity.

She added: “They are wise to do so, as any increase in market activity is likely to cause lengthy delays to the transaction timeline, most notably during the archaic conveyancing process. So getting ahead of the game now is the best way to minimise any delay to your sale.”