"There’s a clear sense that stamp duty reform would bring the most immediate boost to market activity following the Autumn Budget, but it’s just as clear that short-term fixes aren’t enough on their own"
- Colby Short - GetAgent
The latest agent sentiment survey from GetAgent.co.uk shows that, while property market activity has remained resilient through 2025, confidence among estate agents is now divided as the industry awaits key housing announcements in the Autumn Budget.
A new survey, commissioned by the firm, found that agents are cautiously optimistic, but concerns are growing over external economic pressures and a lack of policy clarity ahead of the Budget.
When asked how they would describe buyer and seller confidence in their local markets, almost half of agents (49%) said activity had weakened, reporting slowdowns in both enquiries and instructions. A further 39% described confidence as moderate, with some caution, but deals still progressing, while just 13% said activity remains strong.
Economic uncertainty and the rising cost of living were cited by 47% of agents as the biggest factor holding their market back, followed by tax uncertainty ahead of the Autumn Budget (34%). A lack of stock coming to market (11%) and higher mortgage rates (8%) were also highlighted as key concerns.
Agents were also asked which potential policy changes would most help stimulate market activity. Nearly two-thirds (63%) called for a reform or reduction of Stamp Duty to lower upfront costs for buyers. Reducing planning or tax barriers to new housing delivery (16%) and introducing incentives for downsizers (10%) were also seen as valuable steps, while 10% wanted more direct mortgage support or affordability schemes.
Confidence that the Budget will deliver positive housing measures is low, with 70% of respondents saying they are not confident and only 6% feeling very confident that the government will act appropriately.
“The housing market has shown real resilience this year, with transactions on course to rise by more than 8% despite what’s been a difficult landscape for much of the year,” said Colby Short, co-founder and CEO of GetAgent. “Agents are still getting deals across the line, but the sentiment we’re hearing is that uncertainty is starting to weigh on buyer and seller confidence as the Autumn Budget gets closer.
“There’s a clear sense that stamp duty reform would bring the most immediate boost to market activity following the Autumn Budget, but it’s just as clear that short-term fixes aren’t enough on their own. Beyond that, the industry wants to see a commitment to longer-term initiatives that tackle the root causes of market stagnation – from planning reform and housing delivery to genuine support for first-time buyers.
“The fundamentals are still strong; what we need now is consistency and direction from the top to keep that momentum going into 2026 and beyond.”
