After a subdued end to 2025, the first quarter of 2026 has quietly rebuilt confidence in the housing market. March may be the strategic launch point sellers have been waiting for.

UK mortgage lenders have recently started increasing their mortgage rates, as concerns grow that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could have a wider impact on the global economy. Financial markets are becoming more cautious that rising energy prices, particularly oil and gas, could push inflation higher again.

With new legislation coming into force from 1 May 2026, tenants across the private rented sector will have the legal right to request permission to keep a pet, & crucially, landlords will no longer be able to unreasonably refuse. While this marks a positive step for animal lovers, it also reshapes the way tenancies are assessed, agreed, & managed.

As borrowing costs climb back to levels last seen in late 2023, landlords are being forced to rethink not only how they finance their portfolios, but how they sustain profitability in a more challenging and complex market.