12th Feb 2026 03:05
(Alliance News) - The UK housing market remained subdued in January but there are signs of improvement, an industry association reported Thursday.
According to the most recent UK residential market survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, there was continued downward pressure on UK house prices.
The net balance for house prices, which represents the proportion of survey respondents reporting an increase in prices minus those reporting a fall, stood at minus 10% in January from minus 14% in December.
The FXStreet-cited consensus forecast had expected a reading of minus 11% for January.
Agreed sales posted a net balance of minus 9% in January, the least negative since June, versus minus 19% in December.
"The January 2026 Rics residential market survey suggests market conditions may be starting to turn a corner, with several activity-related indicators recording their least negative readings for several months.
"Furthermore, while near-term expectations remain relatively cautious, there is growing conviction among respondents that a recovery in sales volumes will gather momentum over the year ahead," the Rics report said.
Three-month sales expectations recorded a net balance of plus 4% in January compared with December's plus 22% reading, which Rics said reflects ongoing caution and indicates a flatter trend going forward.
Rics said a balance of plus 43% of those surveyed now expect house prices to rise over the next year, compared plus 35% in December. This represents the highest reading since February 2025 and follows consecutive increases in each of previous five report.
The Rics survey of chartered surveyors operating in the residential sales and lettings market is conducted over a two week period towards the end of each month.
By Elijah Dale, Alliance News senior reporter Asia-Pacific
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