Rightmove recorded its busiest Boxing Day on record as prospective buyers and sellers began preparations for moves in 2026, pointing to renewed activity in the UK housing market after the festive lull.
Traffic to the property portal on 26 December 2025 exceeded the previous high set in 2024, reinforcing Boxing Day’s role as the unofficial start of the prime selling season.
Visits to the site almost doubled compared with Christmas Day, rising by 93%, a sharper increase than the 87% jump recorded the previous year.
The surge suggests households remain highly engaged with the market despite affordability pressures, with many using the holiday period to assess options ahead of the traditional spring upswing.
NEW LISTINGS DOUBLED
Early signs of transactional intent were also evident. In the five days following Christmas, enquiries to estate agents about viewing homes for sale rose by 67% compared with the five days before Christmas.
At the same time, sellers moved quickly to capitalise on heightened interest: new listings on Rightmove more than doubled, up 143% over the same period.
Regional patterns indicate that the South East, East of England and London saw the highest levels of new buyer and seller activity. Smaller properties with zero to two bedrooms – typically favoured by first-time buyers – were the most common type of home to be listed, underlining the continued importance of this segment to overall market liquidity.
Boxing Day has increasingly become a focal point for the housing market as digital search habits converge with seasonal downtime. While January and early spring remain the peak periods for instructions and agreed sales, the latest figures point to strong pipeline demand heading into 2026.
RECORD NUMBERS
Steve Pimblett, Rightmove’s Chief Data Officer, says: “It’s early days but Boxing Day’s data suggests agents could have a busy start to 2026 after a quieter festive period during December, which was also impacted by the lateness of the Budget and the uncertainty around potential policies in the lead up to it.
“Record breaking visit numbers indicates many are looking to put some of the uncertainty of last year behind them and get going with a 2026 move.”
STRONG PLATFORM
Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, says: “The festive break often acts as a reset point for buyers and sellers who are ready to act once the new year begins.
“The sharp rise in enquiries and new listings highlights a strong appetite to move into 2026, particularly among first-time buyers targeting smaller homes.
“Encouragingly, easing inflation and lower base rates compared to this time last year should help improve affordability and confidence, giving the market a stronger platform as the year gets underway.”
But he adds: “While this momentum is positive, it also underlines the importance of ongoing market confidence and stability.
“Affordability pressures, supply constraints, and policy certainty will remain critical factors in determining whether this early surge in interest can be sustained through the spring.
