February emerges as the prime month to list your house for sale, as per findings from a recent study by Rightmove. The analysis indicates that 68.9% of properties put up for sale in February successfully secure buyers.
Following closely behind, both January and March boast a matching success rate of 68.8% for homes finding buyers. April ranks third with 68.7%, trailed by May at 67.7%. Conversely, October ranks at the bottom, with a still respectable 65.4% of listed homes eventually selling. On average, it takes seven months to sell a property and complete the transaction.
The study by Rightmove scrutinized millions of properties listed from 2014 to 2024, excluding 2020 due to the pandemic. 2025 was also omitted to account for properties listed later in the year still awaiting buyers.
January proves to be the speediest month for securing buyers, averaging a mere 47 days, closely followed by February at 48 days. March sees the highest number of newly listed properties and the most overall sales agreements on average.
Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert, points out that February stands out as the optimal month for selling properties, with the upcoming spring season also showing promise. She advises potential sellers eyeing a 2026 move to act promptly to leverage the heightened home-buyer activity.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed emphasizes the need for a smoother buying and selling process to alleviate unnecessary stress for homeowners seeking their dream abode. John Baybut, Managing Director at Berkeley Shaw Real Estate in Liverpool, notes the current robust conditions in the UK property market, attributing the strength to declining interest rates and the enduring value growth of properties.
Mike Sharman, Group Managing Director at Sharman Quinney, highlights the bustling nature of the February market, urging serious buyers to be well-prepared with finances and existing property agreements to secure their desired homes swiftly.