The Bank of England is widely expected to hold interest rates at 3.75% when policymakers announce their latest decision on Thursday 30 July. While this may appear to signal stability on the surface, there are a number of underlying factors creating a more complex and uncertain outlook.

It may feel far too early to think about Christmas, but moving home takes longer than many sellers expect. Starting in July can make the journey calmer and more controlled.

The rental market is still growing, but the way properties are managed has changed. August is a useful time for landlords to review tenancies, rent processes and record-keeping.

One of the biggest talking points this week has been the 11% week-on-week drop in sales agreed and a drop of 2% on the average asking price of a newly listed properties. While some seasonal softening is entirely normal during the summer holiday period, the scale of this fall has caught the attention of the property industry.