September 25, 2026

Rightmove Asking Prices September 2026: UK Housing Market Rise 0.7%, What It Means for Kingston Sellers

Last updated: September 25, 2026

Quick Answer

Rightmove's House Price Index, published 21 September 2026, recorded a 0.7% monthly rise in average new-seller asking prices across the UK, a cash increase of £2,441, taking the national average to £367,440[1]. This is the first monthly rise since May 2026 and follows a 2.0% drop the previous month, but annual prices remain 0.8% lower than September 2025[6][8][9][12][13]. For Kingston-upon-Thames and South West London homeowners, the figures point to a market that is stabilising rather than booming, good news for realistic sellers, but a reminder that a professional building survey still matters when buyer budgets are this tight.

Key Takeaways

Average UK asking prices rose 0.7% in September 2026 to £367,440, the first monthly increase in four months[1][11].
This is slightly above the 10-year September average rise of 0.5%, but described by Rightmove as an "autumn bounce," not a recovery[1][11].
Annual asking prices are still down 0.8% year-on-year, an improvement on August's 1.0% annual fall[6][8][9][12][13].
The number of homes for sale is at its highest level for this time of year in 12 years, giving buyers more choice[4][8][11].
Around 6 in 10 homes are reported to be finding a buyer, reflecting a market where realistic pricing sells and overpricing stalls.
Average mortgage interest rates stood at 5.06% on 4 September 2026, pushing illustrative monthly repayments to £1,717[14].
Rightmove's 2026 forecast still expects prices to end the year flat to 2% down overall, framing September's rise as short-term, not structural[10].
First-time buyer homes averaged £225,199 in September 2026, keeping affordability tight for new entrants[1].
Regional gaps remain wide, nearly £460,000 separates the cheapest and most expensive UK regions[4].

What Does Rightmove Asking Price Data Mean

Rightmove asking price data tracks the prices sellers and their estate agents set when a property is newly listed for sale, not the price it eventually sells for. The September 2026 figure of £367,440 reflects listings that came to market between 9 August and 12 September 2026[2][6][8][9][12][13].

This distinction matters for anyone reading headlines about the "0.7% rise." Asking prices are a forward-looking signal of seller confidence and market positioning. They tell you what sellers hope to achieve, based on recent comparable sales, agent advice, and local demand. They do not confirm what buyers are actually paying.

For Kingston and SW London homeowners, this means the Rightmove index is most useful as an early indicator of market mood, whether sellers feel emboldened to price higher or are pulling back, rather than a precise valuation tool for your own property.

Why Is the UK Housing Market Only Up 0.7% in September 2026

The market rose just 0.7% because September's modest rebound follows a 2.0% fall in asking prices during the previous four-week period, and it happens against a backdrop of high stock levels and cautious buyer demand[2][6][8][9][12][13]. Sellers are testing the market cautiously rather than pushing prices aggressively.

Several factors kept the rise modest:

Record autumn stock levels. The number of homes for sale is the highest for this time of year in 12 years, meaning sellers are competing hard for buyer attention[4][8][11].
Elevated borrowing costs. With average mortgage rates at 5.06% as of 4 September 2026, buyers remain price-sensitive[14].
A cooling annual trend. Prices are still 0.8% lower than a year earlier, so the monthly bounce is a correction within a softer year, not a reversal of it[6][8][9][12][13].

Common mistake: Treating a single month's 0.7% rise as proof the market has turned a corner. Rightmove itself frames this as a seasonal "autumn bounce" rather than a sustained upswing[1][11].

How Accurate Are Rightmove Asking Prices Compared to Actual Sales

Rightmove asking prices are not the same as sold prices, and the gap between the two can be significant depending on how motivated a seller is. Other indices, such as Land Registry, Nationwide and Halifax, track completed transactions and often diverge from Rightmove's figures in the same month[3][15].

For example, HomeOwners Alliance's August 2026 House Price Watch noted Land Registry data showed a 0.7% monthly rise in July, while Nationwide reported a 0.1% fall and Halifax a 0.4% fall in August, a mixed picture that contrasts with Rightmove's 2% asking-price fall reported the same month[3][15]. HomeOwners Alliance deliberately excludes Rightmove from its composite index precisely because it measures asking prices, not achieved sale prices[3][15].

Decision rule: If you're pricing a Kingston property for sale, use Rightmove data to gauge market sentiment and competitor listings, but rely on a local agent's sold-price comparables and, ideally, a chartered surveyor's valuation view for the number that actually matters, what a buyer will pay after survey findings and negotiation.

What Caused the Housing Market Slowdown in 2026

The 2026 slowdown has been driven by a combination of high mortgage rates, record seller stock, and cautious buyer sentiment carried over from previous years of affordability pressure. These forces pushed asking prices down 2.0% in the month before September's rebound[2][6][8][9][12][13].

Key contributors include:

Average mortgage rates sitting at 5.06% in early September 2026, well above the ultra-low rates buyers enjoyed pre-2022[14].
A monthly mortgage payment of roughly £1,717 based on the August average asking price of £364,999, straining affordability for many households[14].
A supply glut, with more homes listed for sale this autumn than at any point in the past 12 years, giving buyers negotiating leverage[4][8][11].

Rightmove's own 2026 forecast, updated earlier this month, projects prices ending the year somewhere between flat and 2% down compared to the start of the year[10]. That's the clearest signal that September's rise is a blip within a broadly subdued annual trend, not the start of a new boom.

Are House Prices Still Rising in Different UK Regions

Yes, but unevenly, regional variation behind the national 0.7% average is significant, with some areas seeing small gains and others still falling. September 2026 data shows the East of England averaging around £414,809, with a small monthly increase but a modest annual decline[1][4].

Commentary on the September figures highlights that the gap between the UK's cheapest and most expensive regions is now nearly £460,000, a stark reminder that national headlines mask very different local realities[4]. Typical time-to-sell also varies widely by region, meaning a "hot" market in one part of the country can sit alongside a sluggish one just a few counties away[1][4].

For Kingston and SW London, this regional divergence means local comparables, not national averages, should guide any pricing or investment decision.

How Do September 2026 Prices Compare to Last Year

September 2026 asking prices are 0.8% lower than September 2025, though this annual decline has softened slightly from the 1.0% fall recorded in August[6][8][9][12][13]. In cash terms, this means typical sellers are asking marginally less than they could a year ago, even after the monthly bounce.

Quick example: A Kingston three-bedroom terrace that might have been listed at £650,000 in September 2025 could realistically be marketed around £645,000-£648,000 in September 2026 once the 0.8% annual adjustment is applied, though actual local pricing depends heavily on condition, location and comparable sales.

This year-on-year context is important context for sellers who assume prices only move upward. The trend since May 2026 has been broadly flat-to-negative, with September's 0.7% rise the first monthly exception[1][11].

Should I Sell My House Now With Prices Rising Slowly

Selling now can still make sense if your property is well-presented, realistically priced, and you're not relying on prices climbing further before you list. Roughly 6 in 10 homes are currently finding a buyer, which suggests motivated, well-priced sellers are still transacting despite the softer annual trend.

Consider these factors before deciding:

Choose to sell now if: you need to move for personal or financial reasons, your local market (Kingston, Surbiton, Wimbledon, Richmond) has strong buyer interest, and you're willing to price close to recent sold comparables rather than aspirational asking prices.
Consider waiting if: you can be flexible on timing and believe borrowing costs will ease, potentially strengthening buyer demand later in 2026 or into 2027.
Edge case: if your property needs significant repair work, addressing issues flagged by a building survey before listing can help you avoid last-minute price renegotiations once a buyer's survey uncovers problems.

Common mistake: Overpricing based on last year's peak figures. With annual prices still down 0.8%, an asking price anchored to 2025 levels risks a stale listing[6][8][9][12][13].

What's the Difference Between Asking Price and Sold Price

Asking price is what a seller lists a property for; sold price is what a buyer actually pays once negotiations, surveys and mortgage valuations are complete. The gap between the two often widens when survey findings reveal defects that justify a price reduction.

This is where a building survey becomes directly relevant to Kingston buyers and sellers. A RICS Home Survey Level 2 or Level 3 can identify issues, damp, subsidence risk, roof condition, period-property quirks common in SW London housing stock, that buyers use to renegotiate below the original asking price. Sellers who commission their own pre-sale survey can address problems in advance and protect their asking price from late-stage cuts.

Is 0.7% Growth Good or Bad for the Housing Market

A 0.7% monthly rise is modestly positive news, slightly above the 10-year September average of 0.5%, but it is not strong enough to signal a robust recovery[1][11]. Context is everything: it follows a 2.0% fall the prior month and sits within a year where annual prices remain 0.8% down[2][6][8][9][12][13].

Whether 0.7% is "good" depends on your position:

Perspective	Is 0.7% growth good news?
Seller wanting quick sale	Mixed, more competition from record stock levels[4][8][11]
First-time buyer	Neutral, affordability still stretched by £225,199 average FTB price[1]
Existing homeowner remortgaging	Slightly positive, signals price stability, not a crash
Investor	Cautious, Rightmove's own forecast expects flat-to-negative annual movement[10]

Which UK Areas Had the Biggest Price Increases in September 2026

National figures show the East of England posting a small monthly increase to around £414,809, though Rightmove's regional breakdown highlights that gains and falls vary sharply across the UK[1][4]. The nearly £460,000 gap between the UK's cheapest and priciest regions underscores how misleading a single national percentage can be[4].

For Kingston and SW London specifically, local estate agent data and sold-price comparables will give a far more accurate picture of area-specific movement than the national 0.7% figure, given London and the South East often move differently to the wider UK average[4].

How Does Rightmove Data Affect Mortgage Rates

Rightmove's asking price data does not set mortgage rates directly, but it reflects the same underlying economic conditions, inflation expectations, Bank of England policy, and lender risk appetite, that shape borrowing costs. As of 4 September 2026, the average mortgage interest rate stood at 5.06%, producing an illustrative monthly payment of £1,717 on the August average asking price of £364,999[14].

Lenders watch indices like Rightmove's alongside Land Registry, Nationwide and Halifax data to gauge market health, but mortgage pricing is driven primarily by swap rates and base rate expectations, not asking-price movements alone[14][15].

Will House Prices Keep Rising After September 2026

Rightmove's updated 2026 forecast projects prices ending the year somewhere between flat and 2% lower than where they started, suggesting September's 0.7% rise is unlikely to mark the beginning of sustained monthly increases[10]. The "autumn bounce" framing used by Rightmove and other commentators supports this cautious outlook[1][8][11].

Market analysts describe the current landscape as "splitting in two": motivated sellers pricing keenly to secure buyers, while less pressured sellers continue testing higher prices, a divergence likely to persist into late 2026[4][8][9].

What Does a 0.7% Rise Mean for First-Time Buyers

For first-time buyers, September's 0.7% rise has limited direct impact, since typical first-time buyer homes (two-bed properties and smaller) averaged £225,199 in September 2026, and affordability remains constrained by income multiples and mortgage rates rather than headline asking-price swings[1][14]. Rightmove's affordability table associates first-time buyer pricing with illustrative income multiples around 4.5 times one or two incomes[1][14].

With average mortgage rates at 5.06%, first-time buyers in Kingston and SW London are likely to feel more impact from borrowing costs than from a single month's 0.7% asking-price movement[14].

How Often Does Rightmove Update Asking Price Data

Rightmove publishes its House Price Index monthly, with the September 2026 edition released on 21 September 2026 covering listings from 9 August to 12 September 2026[1][2][6][8][9][12][13]. Each report captures a rolling four-week snapshot of new-seller asking prices rather than a full calendar month.

Homeowners tracking the Kingston and SW London market should treat each monthly release as one data point in a longer trend, cross-referencing it against sold-price indices like Land Registry, Nationwide and Halifax for a fuller picture[3][15].

What This Means for Kingston and SW London Sellers Considering a Survey

Kingston-upon-Thames and surrounding SW London areas, Surbiton, New Malden, Wimbledon, Richmond, tend to track London-wide trends more closely than the national average, and local buyer competition remains tight even as national annual prices sit 0.8% below last year[6][8][9][12][13]. In a market where roughly 6 in 10 homes are finding buyers, presentation and pricing accuracy matter more than ever.

A pre-sale building survey offers three practical advantages in this climate:

Protects your asking price. Identifying structural issues before listing means you can price with confidence, rather than facing a buyer's survey report that forces a last-minute reduction.
Speeds up transactions. With buyers more price-sensitive due to 5.06% average mortgage rates, a clean survey history can reassure buyers and their lenders, helping deals complete faster[14].
Supports realistic pricing in a crowded market. With stock at 12-year highs for this time of year, well-documented property condition helps a listing stand out among competing homes[4][8][11].

For buyers, meanwhile, commissioning a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey before exchange remains essential, particularly for the older, characterful housing stock common across Kingston and Richmond, where hidden defects can materially affect negotiated price versus original asking price.

FAQ

Did UK house prices really rise in September 2026?
Yes. Rightmove reported a 0.7% monthly rise in average asking prices in its House Price Index published 21 September 2026, the first monthly increase since May 2026[1][11].

Are prices higher than a year ago?
No. Despite the monthly rise, average asking prices remain 0.8% lower than September 2025, an improvement on August's 1.0% annual fall[6][8][9][12][13].

What's the new UK average asking price?
£367,440, a cash increase of £2,441 on the previous month, according to Rightmove[1].

Does the 6 in 10 stat mean most homes are selling easily?
It suggests a majority of realistically priced listings are finding buyers, but roughly 4 in 10 are not, reflecting a market that rewards accurate pricing rather than universal ease of sale.

Should Kingston sellers get a survey before listing?
A pre-sale building survey can help identify issues before buyers do, protecting your asking price and reducing the risk of renegotiation once a buyer's own survey is completed.

Will prices keep rising through the rest of 2026?
Rightmove's own forecast expects prices to end 2026 somewhere between flat and 2% down overall, framing September's rise as a short-term seasonal bounce rather than a new trend[10].

Conclusion

September 2026's 0.7% asking-price rise, confirmed by Rightmove on 21 September 2026, offers welcome but modest reassurance for the UK housing market after four months of decline[1][11]. Annual prices remain 0.8% lower than a year ago, mortgage rates sit around 5.06%, and stock levels are at a 12-year high for this time of year, all signs of a market finding balance rather than surging ahead[6][8][9][12][13][14].

For Kingston and SW London homeowners weighing a sale, the practical takeaway is straightforward: price realistically against local sold comparables, not national headlines, and address any structural concerns before listing. Commissioning a RICS building survey ahead of marketing your home can protect your asking price against late renegotiation, while buyers should treat their own survey as non-negotiable given how sensitive today's market is to condition and borrowing costs. Speak to a local chartered surveyor to understand how these national trends translate into your specific Kingston postcode before making your next move.