The opening fortnight can shape your entire sale. As August 2026 approaches, discover how launch price, timing and buyer readiness can turn early attention into a stronger offer.

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.

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.

With the abolition of Section 21 under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, landlords, tenants, and property professionals alike are facing a major shift in how possession of rental properties is handled. Those who have relied on previously served Section 21 notices must act immediately—or risk losing their ability to use them altogether.