In spite of the election, are most home-movers undeterred?

New insight among home-movers shows 95% say the upcoming election will not affect their moving plans.

• Rightmove data from previous elections shows that the market remained steady:

  • In 2015, demand from buyers was consistent leading up to the election, and experienced a post-election boost in June when the annual change moved from a 9% increase to an 18% increase

  • Similarly in 2019, demand remained stable across October and November, and saw an annual increase of 13% in the December election month, followed by an annual increase of 14% in January 2020

New data from the UK’s biggest property website Rightmove reveals that 95% of people planning to move home say the election will not affect their plans.

Analysis of year-on-year buyer demand changes around the 2015 and 2019 elections also highlights steady activity in the lead up to a vote. Demand is measured by the number of people sending enquiries about properties for sale on Rightmove, and year-on-year change has been used to remove the usual seasonal peaks and troughs in the market.

In the two months leading up to the May 2015 election, buyer demand increased by 5% year-on-year in March, and by 6% in April. During the election month demand increased to 9% year-on-year, with the increase moving to 18% up in June, as the market benefitted from a post-election boost.

In 2019, buyer demand remained stable in the months before the election, increasing by 1% year-on-year in October and 4% in November. During the election month in December, demand was up by 13% year-on-year, followed by a 14% increase in January 2020.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert, commented: “With the date now set for a summer general election, we anticipate that housing market activity will remain steady in the lead-up to the election based on previous patterns. This is further supported by the current attitude among home-movers, with the majority indicating that the election will not affect their plans. Over the past four years, home-movers have faced numerous challenges, including a global pandemic, a shortage of housing supply, and rapidly changing prices. For many, 2024 is finally the year to make their move, and they’re determined to proceed with their plans to secure their next home.

“Previous elections would indicate we may be set for a particularly strong summer once the election is over, especially if interest rates start to fall. However, every election is different, and it would depend on whether any significant housing policies are also introduced, so we’ll need to wait and see what happens to have a better view of activity for the rest of the year.”