The state of the housing market in 2026 and why your survey matters more than ever

To read the newspapers or watch the broadcast news, you could be forgiven for thinking that everything is heading downhill. Certainly, the cost-of-living crisis has not left us yet, compounded by rising fuel costs: not just for your vehicle, but for keeping your home running. Cooking, hot water and, when the weather turns, heating.

The situation has been made worse by two major conflicts. The war in Ukraine continues to weigh on European energy supply. In the Gulf, the US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February 2026 triggered the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of the world's daily oil supply normally flows. As of late May 2026, commercial transits through the strait remain at a fraction of pre-conflict levels, with no clear timeline for a return to normality.

The impact on fuel prices has had a knock-on effect in two directions. Those already under financial pressure are pulling back on spending, and properties with a poor Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating are becoming harder to sell. Buyers are increasingly factoring in the long-term cost of heating a home before they commit.

Despite this, the market is not in freefall. Zoopla's House Price Index for April 2026 shows a picture of cautious activity: the number of homes listed for sale is up 3.4% on last year, while overall buyer demand is running 10% below the same period in 2025. Yet sales agreed are tracking 1% ahead year-on-year, the first annual increase in eight months.

In short, it is a buyers' market. With more supply and fewer active buyers, those who are in a position to move have room to negotiate, and some are using that leverage to push for significant reductions on asking prices.

All of this makes an independent survey more valuable, not less. Understanding the true condition of a property, particularly how it is heated, what the EPC rating reflects about its fabric and systems, and what remedial work might be needed, gives you the information to make a properly informed decision.

This is especially relevant if your move is a necessity rather than a choice. With the geopolitical picture unlikely to settle quickly and energy costs likely to remain elevated, knowing exactly what you are taking on before you exchange is not just sensible. It is essential.

Take a moment to consider what you want from a survey and which areas of a property concern you most. Surveyor Local connects you with the best professional advice through a nationwide panel of chartered surveyors, all of whom are members of RICS, working hard to identify all kinds of issues, from structural integrity to the impact of prior flooding.

Call for a no-obligation survey quote, or use our quick quote generator to get an instant figure in minutes.