The UK property auction market experienced a dip in performance in May 2025, with a year-on-year fall in both activity and sales, according to the latest figures from Essential Information Group (EIG).
The number of lots offered fell by 2.7%, while sales dropped 7.7% compared with May last year.
The national success rate declined to 68.7%, with the residential sector bearing the brunt of the slowdown.
Despite this, the total value raised was only marginally lower, down 1.1%, indicating that well-priced assets continue to attract bidders.
FINELY BALANCED
David Sandeman, Managing Director of EIG, describes a market that remains “active, though more finely balanced than in recent months.”
He adds: “Buyers are becoming more selective and are less likely to engage where pricing doesn’t meet expectations.”
The shift in sentiment is also being reflected regionally. In the rolling quarter from March to May 2025, there was a mixed picture across the country.
The East Midlands, South-West and Wales all recorded increases in both auction entries and sales.
GROWING GAP
But in other areas, notably London and Yorkshire, EIG data suggests a growing gap between vendor ambitions and what buyers are willing to pay.
Sandeman says: “While supply is up across much of the country, sale rates are under pressure in a number of regions. A disconnect is emerging between the lots being brought forward and current buyer demand.”
Auctioneers are increasingly adapting to market dynamics in real time, with early bidder interest playing a growing role in whether lots are ultimately brought to market.
Sandeman adds: “Where properties are priced in line with expectations and attract early attention, competitive bidding is still being achieved – a positive sign that demand is there for the right opportunities.”
The findings reflect a broader trend across the UK property market, where affordability pressures, tighter lending conditions and greater due diligence are influencing buyer behaviour. While demand has not disappeared, buyers appear increasingly unwilling to compete for assets they view as overpriced.
ECONOMIC TURBULANCE
Stuart Collar-Brown, NAVA Propertymark President, says: “It’s positive to see the overall number of lots offered remaining resilient when looking at month on month numbers for both the residential and commercial sector.
“Considering we have witnessed sizeable economic turbulence across the year so far, with elevated base rates and stamp duty threshold changes in April this year, it is little shock this has brought a negative effect on the number of lots sold at auction in May 2025.
“However, if we look at the wider picture and trend on a year-on-year basis for lots sold, the figures demonstrate incredible growth and confidence in the profession for residential and commercial properties delivering 7.2%. and 7.5% growth respectively.
“As sales for both residential and commercial properties continue to adapt to current economic factors, any monthly dip will hopefully prove only temporary, and momentum will again likely gather pace across the traditionally busy summer period.”
