IN THE COUNTRY &TOWN Welcome to
Creating the inspiration to move
Turning to the residential lettings house market, the South East rental market in Autumn 2025 remains very active despite broader economic uncertainty. Strong employment hubs, proximity to London, and good transport links sustain steady demand from young professionals, commuters and families priced out of the capital. Limited new-build rental supply, and owners cautious about selling amid tax and regulatory uncertainty, have kept vacancy rates low and pushed rents modestly higher. Landlord behaviour is mixed: some continue to rebuild portfolios after consolidation earlier in the cycle, while others stay watchful given potential Government policy shifts ahead. Overall, expect steady demand, modest rental growth in strong micro-markets, and continued importance of quality, location and energy performance in landlord investment decisions. Returning to house sales for this Autumn, we believe savvy buyers are already positioning themselves ahead of the budget, while others are prepared to act once the fiscal fog lifts — a pattern that has repeatedly characterised UK housing over many years.
The Autumn House Market Outlook
As the UK heads into Autumn 2025 the housing market is navigating familiar uncertainty ahead of the November budget.This is a common pattern at play: markets often go a little quiet in the run-up to a budget as buyers and sellers wait for clarity, but historically the post-budget period frequently brings renewed activity once the fiscal picture is clearer.That pattern encourages some motivated buyers to move now rather than wait, anticipating that any new measures will spark a short window of activity afterwards. Buyer demand has proved more resilient than many forecasts assumed. Open-market activity — viewings, offers and completions — has remained robust throughout 2025. This market resilience is reflected in the fact that at McCarthy Holden, house sales performed very well in September and continue to do so in October. In addition, the labour market remains a key counterweight. Employment is still strong, with wage growth holding up sufficiently to support mortgage affordability for many households. Lenders too have adapted to a higher-rate environment by refining affordability assessments and offering more creative mortgage products, which cushions some of the pressure from headline rates. Furthermore, a longer-term dynamic underpinning transactions is the growing role of intergenerational support. We have recently commented on how increasing numbers of younger purchasers have been able to step onto the ladder thanks to parental or grandparental gifts, loans, or early inheritance.This structural shift is quietly propping up demand in multiple price bands — not just the premium end.Where family support is available it reduces the reliance on high loan-to-income ratios and makes deposits more achievable, meaning a significant tranche of buyers remains active despite tighter mortgage conditions.
John Holden - Chairman McCarthy Holden
Published by Kilbricken Publishing and John Joe Photography Limited,Telephone: 07470 707275, email jjtopshot@outlook.com, web johnjoe.co.uk. Publishing 2022 - All rights reserved. Reproduction is forbidden except by express permission of the publishers.The content of this magazine is believed to be correct but its accuracy is not guaranteed and it does not form part of any offer or contract. John Joe Limited cannot accept responsibility for any omissions or errors.
6 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online