Property auction activity gathered pace in March, with both sales volumes and money raised ahead of last year as the sector carried strong momentum into the close of the financial year.
Data from Essential Information Group shows that 2,897 lots were sold during the month, up 20.3% on March 2025, while total funds raised reached £559.1m, an increase of 16.6%.
Despite the rise in supply, the success rate remained steady at 68.6%, compared with 68.2% a year earlier, suggesting buyer demand has broadly kept pace with the larger volume of stock coming to market.
The March performance rounded off a solid first quarter for the auction market. Across the opening three months of the year, 7,738 lots were sold, up 19.5% year on year, while total funds raised rose 12.7% to £1.49bn.
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY GAINS GROUND
Residential property continued to account for the bulk of activity, with sales up 19.6% in March. However, the commercial sector recorded faster growth, with volumes increasing by 26.5% and a success rate of 70.6%, pointing to firmer investor appetite for those assets.
Regional performance was more uneven. London and the West Midlands both reported strong growth in volumes alongside improved success rates, indicating demand has remained healthy even as stock levels increased.
By contrast, Yorkshire and the North East saw supply rise sharply, which appears to have put some pressure on success rates despite higher transaction numbers. In Wales and East Anglia, conditions were more balanced, with both activity levels and success rates moving higher.
The figures arrive ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act, due to come into force in May, which is expected to affect the volume of stock coming to auction in the near term. Auctioneers are anticipating a possible rise in landlord disposals in April as some investors look to sell before the new rules take effect.
DEMAND HOLDS UP
David Sandeman of Essential Information Group said: “The figures reflect a market that continues to absorb increased stock levels, supported by consistent buyer demand despite wider economic and regulatory pressures.”
He added that while the longer-term effect of the reforms remains unclear, particularly in relation to pricing and supply, the continued strength in transaction volumes indicates the auction market remains resilient and capable of absorbing further changes in stock levels.
MAINSTREAM ROUTE
Stuart Collar-Brown, president of NAVA Propertymark, said: “These latest figures reinforce a clear shift in how property is bought and sold, with auctions now firmly established as a mainstream route rather than a niche or specialist option.
“The market is increasingly driven by certainty over aspiration, with buyers and sellers prioritising speed, transparency and reduced fall-through risk, areas where auctions perform strongly.
“While activity remains resilient, ongoing global economic uncertainty may soften sentiment and temper transaction levels as decision-making becomes more cautious.”
Collar-Brown said the figures also pointed to what may be a wider change in landlord behaviour in England as implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act approaches.
INVESTOR OPPORTUNITIES
He said: “The data also reflects a potential structural shift in landlord behaviour across England specifically. As the Renters’ Rights Act approaches implementation, some landlords are reassessing portfolios, with auctions offering a practical route for the efficient sale, especially of more complex stock.
“At the same time, auctions continue to present opportunities for investors able to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape, particularly for assets requiring repositioning or active management.
“Overall, this points to a market recalibration rather than a short-term trend, with auctions increasingly embedded in the core toolkit for property transactions in a more regulated environment.”
