The UK housing market continues to evolve, and recent data reveals a significant shift in how homes are owned and occupied across the country. According to new research by Savills, the UK’s private rented sector (PRS) recorded its largest decline this century in 2025, falling by £48 billion in value as many buy-to-let landlords exited the market.

As we move through May 2026, buyers are seeing more homes come to market, but affordability still matters. Here is what today’s mix of greater choice, steady demand and higher mortgage costs means if you are planning a move.

The cost of moving home in the UK has always extended beyond deposits and mortgage repayments—but recent figures highlight just how significant one particular expense has become: Stamp Duty.

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.