"Despite previous trends of market decline following past SDLT deadlines, the current momentum appears set to continue"
- Colby Short - GetAgent
Estate agents across England are being urged to prepare for sustained property market activity after a new analysis from GetAgent.co.uk revealed that March saw the highest number of monthly transactions since June 2021.
The uptick in activity coincided with the recent stamp duty deadline, which appears to have prompted a significant surge in completions. However, early indicators suggest that this momentum could carry through into the coming months.
According to GetAgent, vendor interest through the platform rose sharply in Q1 2025, with a 37% increase in vendor referrals compared with the same period last year. Valuation referrals, where sellers proceed to book an appointment with a chosen agent, also climbed 51% over the same period.
GetAgent analysed government data on completed residential transactions across England to track the market’s response to the stamp duty changes. The provisional figures show that 149,660 residential sales were completed in March alone, an 89% jump on February and 114% higher than January’s total.
This marks the second-highest monthly increase in transaction volumes over the past five years. The only larger rise came in June 2021, when the first phase of the pandemic-related stamp duty holiday ended. That month, completions surged by 120% compared with May, reaching 191,300.
A similar trend followed in September 2021, as the final stage of the pandemic-era stamp duty relief ended. Transactions that month rose 69% compared with August, totalling 146,610.
Both of these previous spikes were followed by immediate drops in activity. July 2021 saw completions fall by 69%, while October recorded a 54% decline compared with the preceding month.
Despite these historical patterns, GetAgent is not predicting the same fall-off this time.
“It’s no surprise that the recent stamp duty deadline drove an increase in monthly sales volumes, as homebuyers scrambled to complete after what was a relatively short notice from the government," comments co-founder and CEO of GetAgent.co.uk Colby Short. “But despite previous trends of market decline following past SDLT deadlines, the current momentum appears set to continue. Our Client Services team speaks to thousands of vendors each week, and the sentiment is clear: sellers remain motivated and confident in the market, even now the deadline has passed.
He added, “In Q1 alone, we saw a 37% spike in vendor referrals, whilst valuation referrals were up by 51% versus this time last year, which demonstrates that demand is alive and well.
“It’s a strong sign that momentum in the market isn’t just holding, it’s building. While the stamp duty saving was a motivator for some, we’re seeing signs that the market is set to go from strength to strength as we move into the summer months.”
