UK house sales surge as experts warn of stamp duty market distortion
New forecasts reveal UK house sales rose 53 per cent last month compared to the previous year, but experts warn stamp duty changes are “distorting” the market.
According to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures, 101,030 housing transactions were completed across England in April. This compares with 65,960 in the same month in 2025.
This sharp increase was due to lower levels of activity in the previous year as home buyers rushed to complete sales before stamp duty changes were introduced at the beginning of the month.
The changes remove the stamp duty relief on high-priced homes that has been available since 2022; That means some home buyers pay more taxes after the deadline.
Despite this increase on a yearly basis, the figure for April 2026 was 3 percent lower than the previous month. Experts said this points to signs that the housing market is resilient in the spring, although the Middle East war continues to impact the mortgage market.
Many mortgage deals have been withdrawn due to financial uncertainty caused by the conflict, but some mortgage products have started trickling back into the market in recent weeks.
Nick Leeming, chairman of Jackson-Stops, said: “Today’s HMRC figures point to a rebound in housing transactions in April 2026, but this rise needs to be seen in the context of a highly skewed comparison period last year.
“Activity in April 2025 was unusually low after many buyers pushed purchases to March ahead of stamp duty changes.
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“The figures are another reminder of the extent to which stamp duty continues to influence transaction timing and market behavior, often obscuring underlying levels of demand.”
Iain McKenzie, chief executive of The Guild of Property Professionals, said the market had become “more balanced and sustainable” and “necessity-driven actors continue to support activity regardless of wider economic or geopolitical conditions”.
“There are also encouraging signs in the mortgage market,” he added.
“While inflation falling to 3 per cent and the Bank of England keeping interest rates steady will help boost confidence, lenders are sharpening their pencils and becoming increasingly competitive in mortgage pricing.
“This could help support further activity in the coming months as rates begin to soften again.”
