Property buyer enquiries surge after heatwave lull
Buyer demand rebounded after a dip during the hot temperatures of half-term week, Rightmove data reveals.
Buyer demand bounced back after a lull created by a heatwave during the half-term holiday, Rightmove data shows.
Enquiries dropped 8% in one week at the end of May as the temperatures soared, but have now surged again, it said.
It went on to add that the number of potential buyer queries is still lower than last year, but remains stable in line with the trends so far this year.
Not unusual
Colleen Babcock, Head of Partner Marketing at Rightmove, says: “It’s not unusual for short-term external events like a heatwave or school holidays to have a temporary impact on home-moving activity, and this time we had both at the same time, so it isn’t surprising that some buyers paused their searches or delayed viewings for a few days.
“What’s more telling is how quickly demand tends to bounce back, as we’re now seeing, with underlying market activity remaining consistent with what we’ve seen in 2026 so far.
“We regularly see patterns like this in our real-time data, whether it’s seasonal shifts, major events like the World Cup coming up, or even cultural moments influencing behaviour”.
The key takeaway is that underlying buyer appetite remains resilient.”
And Mary-Lou Press, President at NAEA Propertymark, says: “External factors such as school holidays, major events and periods of exceptionally warm weather can temporarily affect viewing activity.
“While some buyers may have delayed their property searches during the recent heatwave, it is encouraging to see demand rebound so quickly once normal routines resumed.
“The key takeaway is that underlying buyer appetite remains resilient despite ongoing affordability pressures. Many people are still motivated to move, and the swift recovery in enquiries demonstrates that short-term dips in activity should not be mistaken for a loss of market confidence.”
