Summer is traditionally a quieter period for the UK property market, with school holidays, family commitments and overseas travel often causing buyers and sellers to put their plans on hold. This year, however, prolonged hot weather appears to have added to the seasonal slowdown.

The UK property market continues to face a number of challenges, with mortgage costs, affordability, economic uncertainty and the overall cost of moving all influencing buyer and seller decisions.

Having an offer accepted on a property should feel like a major milestone. But getting from “offer accepted” to “completion” can sometimes feel like a very different story. New research suggests that conveyancing is now seen by many homebuyers as one of the biggest obstacles to a smooth property transaction — even more so than property chains.

The UK mortgage market is moving once again, with a number of major lenders increasing their mortgage rates as wholesale funding costs and swap rates rise. For anyone planning to buy, sell, remortgage or invest in property, this is an important development to keep an eye on.