The RICS UK Residential Market Survey reported that the house price balance fell to -23% in March 2026, down from -14% in January. This is the weakest reading since December 2023 and came in below market expectations of -18%, pointing to renewed, albeit still relatively moderate, downward pressure on prices.
Regionally, London, East Anglia, and the South East and South West of England all recorded more negative net balance readings than the UK average. By contrast, respondents in Northern Ireland and Scotland continued to report house price growth.
Looking ahead, the near-term house price expectations index declined sharply to a net balance of -43% in March at the UK-wide level, from -19% in the previous month. This indicates that downward pressure on prices is expected to intensify over the next three months.
