Sellers seek to attract summer buyers
The average price of newly-listed homes for sale has fallen by -0.6% in June, as sellers seek to attract buyers during the summer, according to Rightmove.
The dip, which sees the average house price adjusting to £376,191, is the biggest June price drop in fourteen years.
House prices in June are -0.5% lower than the same period a year ago, with Rightmove suggesting that “many new sellers are adjusting prices in response to the record number of homes available for this time of year”.
In this kind of market, sellers need to work harder to attract attention. Setting a competitive asking price from the outset is key, as buyers are taking more time to compare options and are quick to move on if a home doesn’t stand out on value.
Colleen Babcock, Property Expert, Rightmove
Meanwhile, official figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed a 3.8% growth in annual house prices to April 2026.
However, the heartening increase is caused by a base effect, with house prices decreasing sharply between March and April 2025 following Stamp Duty Land Tax changes.
The average house price increased to £291,000 (3.9%) in England, £212,000 (3.5%) in Wales, and £192,000 (2.8%) in Scotland, in the 12 months to April 2026.
Welsh government urged to focus on private housing
A new report from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) has found that there are “significant opportunities” that could be realised by increasing housebuilding in Wales during this Senedd parliament, but that the Welsh government’s plans show a lack of focus on private housing.
The report, The Social and Economic Impact of Home Building in Wales, points out that while the Welsh government has a target of 20,000 new social homes by 2030, there was no commitment for private housebuilding, with an additional 23,000 market homes needed during this Senedd term.
The HBF said that delivering these 23,000 homes for market sale by 2030 could unlock:
- Thousands of new Affordable Homes, backed by £200 million of private sector investment through Section 106 agreements;
- Around 3,700 school places, backed by approximately £65 million invested in new and improved schools;
- Investment in community facilities equivalent to around 110 multi-use games areas or 180 football pitches through £21 million invested in open spaces and recreation;
- Around £650 million in additional tax revenues to support public services.
CLC launches mental health code
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has launched its Mental Health Joint Code of Practice, designed to provide firms with a framework to create an environment that creates better mental health for their workforce.
A series of focus groups highlighted five core primary causes impacting the construction workforce’s mental health:
- Working patterns (e.g. long hours and excessive travel)
- People factors and work (welfare, dignity and respect)
- Operational factors (e.g. commercial pressures)
- Barriers to mental health support (stigma and low mental health literacy preventing help to those who need it)
- Financial factors (late payment and financial insecurity)
The CLC said: “The invitation is simple to leaders and business: adopt [the code], use it, improve it – and help the sector move forward together, in step, towards work that is healthier by design.
“This is a joint code, written by the sector, for the sector. It reflects the reality that no single organisation can deliver change in isolation.”
We are still losing far too many people working in construction to suicide and behind every number is a family, a friend, a colleague whose life has been cut short. That is simply not good enough.
This code is about facing up to that reality and taking action early, so people get the support they need before it reaches crisis point.
Chris McDonald, Co-Chair, CLC
Housing figures honoured
Several housing and construction leaders have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List, with Ian McDermott, Chief Executive Officer of Peabody, and former Fiona MacGregor awarded CBEs for services to social housing, while former Ian Piper received a CBE for services to housing and regeneration.
OBEs were awarded to David Birkbeck, Chief Executive Officer of Design for Homes, for services to housing design, and Rick Willmott, Executive Chairman of Willmott Dixon, for services to the construction industry.
Aileen Evans also received an OBE for services to social housing, while David Read was honoured with an OBE for public service.
Developer and supply chain updates
Vistry has launched a voluntary exit scheme for its 4,000 employees, saying it is aimed at staff who no longer feel aligned with the business rather than a redundancy programme.
The move comes as Chief Executive Officer Adam Daniels leads an operational review and follows a warning that first-half profits will be significantly lower due to increased sales incentives and discounts.
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Rebecca Napier has been appointed Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Barratt Redrow, joining the business on 03 August. Napier joins from Britvic, where she served as Chief Financial Officer until its acquisition by Carlsberg Group in 2025, and previously spent 17 years at IAG, including as Chief Financial Officer of British Airways.