HMRC Transaction data: comment from HouzeCheck

30 May 2025

Commenting on the provisional data from completed transactions during April 2025, valuations guru Richard Sexton, the commercial director of proptech surveyor HouzeCheck, said:

“While the provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in March 2025 was 62% higher than February 2025, that was more to do with the stamp duty deadline than an incredibly healthy market. Equally, this slowdown is the inevitable hangover after the massive property party in March – we shouldn’t read too much into it over the medium term.

“More worryingly, we estimate only 9,700 of these buyers ordered a survey, despite property transactions being one of the most complex and emotive financial journeys on which they are ever likely to embark. More homebuyers need to recognise that, without a private survey, they are leaving themselves open to the risks of unforeseen costs – as well as the associated distress and disruption.”

“Lastly, HouzeCheck undertook a similar number of surveys between the 1st and 30th April as we did in March, despite the bumpy market. That reflects a growing number of brokers putting business our way. I would speculate that the big legacy surveying brands have been focused on meeting the demand from lenders for mortgage valuations – and the necessity of prioritising that work – while putting private survey work on the back burner. We have been the default beneficiaries of that. It helps that we are digitally-led and that the average time it takes us to get a report completed and delivered is under three days – not bad considering a building survey takes a day to complete. Brokers talking to clients looking to undertake a private survey in a timely fashion might consider that when offering a recommendation.”