The number of estate agency businesses operating in the UK is forecast to rise by more than 4% in 2026 and adding further competition to an already crowded market, according to new research from PropertyDriveBuy.
Analysis of Office for National Statistics data covering the period from 2017 to 2025 shows there were 25,665 active estate agency businesses across the UK in 2025. This represents a 2% increase on 2024, when the total stood at 25,155.
Growth has been uneven across the country. The West Midlands recorded the strongest annual increase in 2025, with agent numbers up 6.1%, followed by the East of England at 2.8%.
London also saw continued expansion, with a 2.2% rise, while the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West all posted increases of just over 2%. Scotland recorded 2% growth.
LONG-TERM RISE
The North East was the only region to see a decline in agent numbers last year, with the total falling by 0.8% compared with 2024.
The research highlights a sustained long-term rise in the number of estate agents. Since 2017, the sector has grown every year, adding almost 6,400 businesses over the period.
Using historic ONS data and an exponential growth forecasting model that accounts for seasonality and longer-term trends, PropertyDriveBuy estimates that the number of estate agency businesses could increase by a further 4.1% in 2026.
“This would take the total number of agents in the UK to around 26,705.”
If realised, this would take the total number of agents in the UK to around 26,705.
PropertyDriveBuy said the projected growth underlines the increasing level of competition agents are likely to face in the year ahead, placing greater emphasis on differentiation, service quality and efficiency.
RAISING THE BAR
Steve Foreman (main picture, inset), Founder and CEO of The Property DriveBuy, says: “As more agents enter the market each year, we’re seeing competition intensify, forcing everyone to raise the bar.
“This is great for the standard of estate agencies delivered in the UK, but it also means that agents need to work incredibly hard to stand out from the crowd. It’s no longer just advisable to try and differentiate yourself; it’s essential.”
EMBRACING INNOVATION
And he adds: Agencies that succeed in this environment are the ones embracing innovation, adopting new technologies, and finding eye-catching ways to reach and engage audiences – particularly with the emergence and evolution of AI-powered operational improvements.
“But most importantly, they’re focused on delivering exceptional client experiences and maximising the value of the service they provide.
“Increased competition is healthy because it drives progress and demands that agents find ways of optimising the service they provide.”
