UK house sales surged by 53 per cent in April compared with the same month last year, according to new estimates from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). However, experts have warned that stamp duty changes are distorting the market figures.
HMRC data revealed that 101,030 residential transactions were completed across the UK in April 2026, up from 65,960 in April 2025. The sharp year-on-year increase was largely driven by unusually low activity in the previous year, as homebuyers rushed to complete purchases before stamp duty relief on higher-priced homes was scrapped at the start of April 2025. That relief, available since 2022, meant some buyers faced higher tax bills after the deadline.
Despite the annual spike, April 2026 transactions were 3 per cent lower than in March 2026. Experts said this indicated resilience in the housing market during spring, even as geopolitical tensions, particularly the Middle East conflict, continued to impact the mortgage market. Many mortgage deals were pulled amid financial uncertainty, though some products have begun returning in recent weeks.
Nick Leeming, chairman of Jackson-Stops, commented: "Today's HMRC figures point to a rebound in housing transactions in April 2026, although the rise needs to be viewed in the context of a highly distorted comparison period last year. Activity in April 2025 was unusually subdued after many buyers pulled purchases forward into March to complete ahead of stamp duty changes. The figures are another reminder of the extent to which stamp duty continues to drive transaction timing and market behaviour, often obscuring underlying levels of demand."
Iain McKenzie, chief executive of The Guild of Property Professionals, described the market as becoming "more balanced and sustainable," adding that "needs-based movers continue to underpin activity regardless of wider economic or geopolitical conditions." He noted encouraging signs in the mortgage market: "Inflation easing to 3 per cent, combined with the Bank of England holding rates steady, has helped improve confidence, while lenders are sharpening their pencils and becoming increasingly competitive on mortgage pricing. As rates begin to soften again, this should help support further activity over the coming months."
