September sees above-average boost in buyer demand
- Home-movers have returned to the market more quickly than usual after the summer holidays, according to Rightmove data
- Buyer demand increased by 5% during the opening week of the month, higher than the average 0.4% increase seen over the same period during the last five years
- London (+9%) and the South West (+8%) saw some of the sharpest rises in demand
Home-movers have returned to the market more quickly than usual after the summer holidays, with buyer demand seeing a strong back-to-school boost during the first week of September.
Buyer demand increased by 5% during the opening week of September. This is much higher than the average increase of 0.4% that we’ve seen for the same period during the last five years.
This higher than usual increase suggests that many buyers are returning to their property searches and moving plans as schools reopen and households settle back into their usual routines.
Looking at demand in different regions, London saw the strongest increase in buyer demand during the first week of the month (+9%). This was followed by the South West (+8%), while the West Midlands and North East both saw increases of around 7%.
Regional view of buyer demand uplift*
| Region (1st – 5th September 2026) | Buyer demand % uplift |
|---|---|
| London | +9% |
| South West | +8% |
| West Midlands | +7% |
| North East | +7% |
| East Midlands | +6% |
| South East | +6% |
| UK | +5% |
| East of England | +5% |
| North West | +4% |
| Wales | +3% |
| Scotland | +1% |
*Rightmove demand data for the first week of September
A welcome boost to the market
The improvement provides a welcome boost in a year where buyer demand has been affected by factors such as the Iran war, summer heatwaves and a new Prime Minister.
Rightmove’s property expert Colleen Babcock explains:
“While buyer demand remains below last year’s level, this year’s back-to-school bounce is a welcome sign after a summer that brought the usual holiday distractions alongside several spells of exceptionally hot weather.
“It’s encouraging to see buyers getting on with their moving plans and returning to the market as we head into the autumn season. We’ll be watching closely to see whether this momentum continues over the coming weeks.”
Hollie Whittaker, Founder of Yorkshire estate agents Block & Brick, agrees that the strong start to September is an encouraging sign:
“We’re definitely seeing signs of increased buyer activity as people settle back into their usual routines after the summer holidays. Viewing requests have started to pick up, and we’re seeing more buyers actively continuing their search for their next home now the kids are back at school.
“We’re also seeing daily online views increase across our properties, which is a positive sign that buyers are re-engaging with the market. After a quieter summer period, it’s encouraging to see momentum beginning to build again, and we expect buyer activity to continue strengthening as we move further into September.”
Written by Jan Moys, Rightmove Editorial Team
Jan has worked as a writer and content expert for… Read more
