LGSS comments on ONS private rent and house price data

19 August 2026

Richard Sexton, managing director at LGSS, said:

“A rising market can make valuation look easier. It doesn’t necessarily make it so.

“The latest ONS figures point to continued momentum in the housing market, but rising prices can also create a more subtle challenge for valuers: understanding how much of that movement is supported by underlying evidence and how much reflects changing buyer expectations.

“For lenders, the quality and interpretation of comparable evidence therefore remain critical. Transactions provide the foundation for understanding market value, but they are inevitably backward-looking. As prices move, experienced surveyors need to assess whether those comparables still reflect current conditions and how relevant they are to the individual property being valued. That’s why AVMs can struggle in a market which is moving rapidly.

“Technology and richer property data can help identify emerging trends more quickly, but they work best alongside professional judgement. A stronger market may provide more confidence, but it does not remove the need to rigorously interrogate the evidence behind each lending decision.”