HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed that residential property transactions in the UK reached 96,710 in July 2026 on a seasonally adjusted basis. The latest accredited official statistics show a 2% decline in activity compared to the previous month.
The figures, which cover completions with a value of £40,000 or above, represent the final stages of the buying process. Because completions typically occur two to four months after an initial offer is accepted, these statistics reflect market conditions from earlier in the spring and summer.
While the seasonally adjusted figures showed a slight month-on-month dip, the non-seasonally adjusted estimate for UK residential transactions in July was higher, standing at 106,620. In the non-residential sector, which includes commercial property, seasonally adjusted transactions reached 10,350 for the same period.
Industry analysts have attributed the slight cooling in July’s adjusted figures to the traditional “summer lull,” where seasonal holiday periods often interrupt the progression of property sales. The £40,000 reporting threshold remains the standard level for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) in England and Northern Ireland, as well as the equivalent land taxes in Scotland and Wales.
Regional trends and August data
Preliminary data from HM Land Registry provides a more recent snapshot of the market heading into late summer. In August 2026, the Land Registry processed 98,471 “transactions for value” across England and Wales.
Activity remained particularly high in the South East of England. Land Registry records show the region topped the national table for overall property-related applications in August, with 414,202 processed. This includes various administrative updates to the register alongside new sales and transfers.
The discrepancy between HMRC and Land Registry figures often occurs because HMRC data is based on tax returns at the point of completion, while Land Registry data is compiled as those transactions are subsequently registered.
The next full set of official property transaction statistics from HMRC, which will cover the month of August 2026, is scheduled for release at 09:30 on Wednesday 30 September 2026.