Many had contacted agents or attended viewings before putting plans on hold
Most homebuyers delaying a property purchase until after the Autumn Statement had already started their search, with 85% having browsed properties, contacted estate agents or attended viewings before putting their plans on hold.
Research commissioned by House Buyer Bureau found 27% of current homebuyers had already delayed or paused their property search until after the Autumn Statement. A further 21% had not yet decided whether to do the same, while 52% said they were continuing with their search as planned.
Among those who had decided to wait, 54% had already been browsing properties online before putting their plans on hold. Another 19% had contacted estate agents, while 12% had progressed to attending property viewings.
Only 15% of those waiting had not started searching for a property. House Buyer Bureau therefore found that 85% had taken some form of action in their property search before deciding to wait.
Mortgage approvals for house purchases fell to 56,053 in July 2026, down 3.7% from June and 14.9% from a year earlier, according to Bank of England figures. Approvals had reached 65,900 in April before falling to 56,200 in May.
The survey found that the potential impact of the Autumn Statement on mortgage rates was the most commonly cited reason for waiting, with 23% saying they expected the Statement could affect rates.
Early-September data put the average rate across all residential mortgage types at roughly 5.55%, with typical two- and five-year fixed rates both above 5.6%. Lender affordability assessments were also using stress rates of between 7% and 8.5%.
Cost concerns extend beyond mortgage rates
A further 18% of respondents said they were concerned taxes or the overall cost of buying could increase, while another 18% were waiting to see whether Stamp Duty would be changed. Greater certainty before making a large financial commitment was cited by 15%, while 13% believed the Statement could affect house prices.
In September 2025, demand for homes priced above £500,000 was down 4% year-on-year and new listings in that segment had fallen 7%, according to Zoopla. The figures were reported ahead of the November 2025 Budget, when tax changes were also being discussed.
Stamp Duty Land Tax receipts reached £15.2 billion in the 2025-26 tax year, up £1.3 billion, or 9.2%, from £13.9 billion in 2024-25. The increase followed the reduction in the nil-rate threshold from £250,000 to £125,000 in April 2025, while Coventry Building Society said the change increased the Stamp Duty bill on an average-priced home in England by £2,500.
The prospect of new Government support featured less frequently among the reasons for waiting. Some 8% were hoping for financial support or incentives for homebuyers, while 5% were waiting to see whether new first-time buyer support would be announced.
Mortgage lending data shows mixed movements
Bank of England data published in September 2025 showed gross mortgage advances had fallen 24.2% quarter-on-quarter to £58.8 billion, while new mortgage commitments rose 14.6% to £78.2 billion, the highest level since the third quarter of 2022. The value of outstanding residential mortgages stood at £1.7 trillion, up 2.6% year-on-year.
House Buyer Bureau found that 48% of current homebuyers were either already delaying or pausing their search or were undecided about whether to do so. The remaining 52% said they were continuing with their property search as planned.
The company said fewer active purchasers could affect the number of potential buyers engaging with properties before the Autumn Statement, with sellers potentially facing difficulty attracting interest and securing a sale.
“Autumn Statement speculation has become an almost annual headache for the property market and uncertainty over what might be announced can cause buyers to think twice before making such a significant financial commitment,” said Chris Hodgkinson, managing director of House Buyer Bureau.
He said those waiting included buyers who had already been browsing properties, contacting estate agents and attending viewings before deciding to pause their plans.
“Once the Government has shown its hand, some of this uncertainty should lift and buyers may well return to the market,” Hodgkinson said.
He added that sellers unable to wait could place greater importance on completing a sale with speed and certainty.
The survey involved 1,193 current homebuyers in England and was conducted by ProperPR on behalf of House Buyer Bureau through consumer research platform FindOutNow on September 8, 2026.
