Welcome to This Week in Property, your essential update on the latest UK construction and property news. This week’s property news has been dominated by anticipation ahead of the Autumn Budget, major updates to rental legislation, and continued shifts across the commercial real estate landscape. Below is a concise roundup of the developments shaping the residential, rental, and commercial sectors in the UK.

Market conditions and budget anticipation

The property market appears to be in a holding pattern ahead of the upcoming Budget. RICS reports that the housing market is stuck in an Autumn Budget “holding pattern”, while Rightmove notes that Budget anticipation is distracting the market as asking prices drop.

Major housebuilders are feeling the effects, with Taylor Wimpey reporting “softer” trading conditions ahead of the Budget, though Persimmon has raised its sales rate despite the “challenging market”.

There’s growing debate around Stamp Duty reform, with Zoopla highlighting a “strong case” for abolishing Stamp Duty and Rightmove seeking estate agent views on potential reforms.

Renters’ Rights Act implementation timeline revealed

In a significant development for the rental sector, the government has revealed that “no-fault” evictions will be illegal from May 2026, providing a clear implementation timeline for the Renters’ Rights Act. The government’s roadmap for implementation has sparked varied industry responses.

Landlords and agents should be aware that they could face fines of up to £40,000 for breaches of the Act. The National Residential Landlords Association has expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation roadmap, while there are calls for urgent court investment ahead of implementation.

Rental market trends

According to Savills, mainstream rents are forecast to rise 12% over the next five years. There’s also growing divergence in the private rental market across regions, with Scottish landlords hiking rents the most despite rent controls.

Concerningly, Yorkshire has been identified as the worst offender for hazardous HMOs, highlighting ongoing quality issues in parts of the rental sector.

Office space evolution and commercial auction success

The office market continues to evolve, with CBRE forecasting that flex offices will reach 20% of all London office space by 2030. Landsec has secured 88,000 sq ft of lettings across its Victoria office portfolio, while Ardstone has launched a £25m sale of Birmingham office block Victoria Square House.

In the science and technology sector, Oxford Science Park has acquired a 23,500 sq ft building for laboratory expansion.

Commercial auctions have shown strong results, with Savills’ November auction raising £46m and Allsop bringing in £31.8m at its November commercial auction. Commercial property investment is flourishing at auction.

The upcoming Budget remains the main driver of uncertainty across the market, influencing buyer sentiment, developer activity, and pricing trends. At the same time, rental reforms and the rise of flexible and science-led commercial spaces continue to reshape the wider property landscape. Staying informed will be essential as the sector prepares for legislative