A Surprisingly Active Winter Market While many assume December is quiet, the SW London market continues to move steadily.Motivated buyers, soft seasonal pricing, and strong rental demand create distinct opportunities — whether you’re selling, buying or letting this month. Winter Buyer Behaviour: More Serious, Less Browsing Unlike spring, December buyers
Rate backdrop (quick facts) Bank Rate: 4%; BoE to update again on 6 Nov (this week). (bankofengland.co.uk) Lenders have been edging pricing down through autumn as inflation cools; averages around ~5% for mainstream 2- and 5-yr fixes have been common in recent months. (Direction varies by lender/product.) (Zoopla) Your decision
Why November works Stock is up vs last year but pricing is measured—good homes still move fast when launched right (Rightmove shows October asking prices +0.3% MoM with activity above 2024). (rightmove.co.uk) Your 3-week Sharpes plan Week 1 (Prep & Positioning) Street-level comps + buyer heatmap; light staging (kerb appeal,
The snapshot (fast facts) House prices: Nationwide says +0.3% MoM in Oct; +2.4% YoY—stable and edging higher. (nationwide.co.uk) Asking prices: Rightmove’s October index shows £371,422, +0.3% MoM, -0.1% YoY; activity YTD still up vs 2024. (rightmove.co.uk) Base rate: 4% today; next MPC decision Thursday, 6 November 2025. (bankofengland.co.uk) Rents: ONS:
The rental picture (need-to-know) ONS: UK private rents +5.7% YoY (to August). Momentum is easing from mid-2024 peaks. Office for National Statistics Zoopla: New-let rents are +2.4% YoY with 2025 likely to end +2–3%; affordability is the key brake. Zoopla+1 Sharpen your position now Renewals with intent: Offer fair, evidence-based
The snapshot (data-driven, super short) Prices: Nationwide says house prices rose 0.5% in September; annual growth 2.2%. London still lags UK average. Reuters Asking prices: Rightmove shows +0.4% MoM in September (typical back-to-school bump) but 0.1% below last year; sales agreed running ~4% higher YoY. Rightmove Bank Rate: 4% today;
Where things stand The Government’s Renters’ Rights Bill ends Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, makes all ASTs periodic, updates Decent Homes Standard, and strengthens tenant protections. (GOV.UK) Timelines: widely expected Royal Assent Sep/Oct 2025; commencement from 2026 (staged). (The Independent Landlord, Connaught Law Limited, Howard Morley) Practical impacts (plain English) Possession
Why pricing right matters Homes priced correctly from day one sell ~3x faster than those that need reductions (32 days vs 99). Translation: less stress, stronger offers. (Rightmove) Your 30-Day Sharpes Plan Week 1: Prep & Positioning Data-driven valuation (street-level comps, buyer demand heatmap). Light staging checklist: kerb appeal, paint
The Snapshot Base rate cut: The MPC reduced Bank Rate to 4% on 7 August (5–4 vote). Next MPC announcement is scheduled for 18 September. (Bank of England, Equals Money) Asking prices: -1.3% MoM in August to £368,740 (UK), marking a typical seasonal dip; July saw the busiest sales-agreed month
EPC Timeline at a Glance Year Regulation Status 15 Jun 2025 RdSAP 10 methodology overhaul—more detailed assessments (may raise/lower ratings). (propertymark.co.uk) Confirmed 2025 (New Lets) Proposed Band C minimum for new tenancies. (ecoenergyservices.co.uk) Likely 2028‑30 Band C for all rentals; Warm Homes Plan consultations ongoing. (Simply Business UK, GOV.UK) In review Cost of Inaction Failure to
