The UK property auction market continued to show positive year-on-year activity in April, with more lots coming to market and residential sales remaining resilient.
The latest figures from Essential Information Group (1) show 3,433 lots were offered across the UK during the month, up 9.5% year-on-year. In total, 2,222 lots sold, representing a 3.9% increase on April 2025, while total funds raised reached £382.2 million.
Although auction activity remains ahead of last year, supply is continuing to rise faster than sales activity. As a result, the national sales success rate eased to 64.7%, compared with 68.2% in April 2025.
This points to a market that remains active, but one where pricing strategy, property type and buyer demand are becoming increasingly important.
With more stock available, buyers have a greater amount of choice. Sellers need to ensure their properties are guided sensibly by an experienced agent to generate strong interest and competitive bidding.
The current national auction market is being shaped by a clear increase in supply. Across the February to April 2026 period, 12,234 lots were offered, up 11.9% on the same period last year. Over the same three-month period, 8,517 lots were sold – an increase of 10.9%, raising £1.617 billion for sellers.
This continued growth demonstrates the strength and relevance of auction as a route to sale, particularly for sellers looking for speed, transparency and committed buyers.
However, with stock levels rising across many parts of the country, buyers are becoming more selective. Properties that are priced realistically, presented clearly and supported by strong upfront information remain best placed to achieve competitive results.
Residential property continues to underpin the UK auction market.
In April 2026, 3,091 residential lots were offered, up 12.0% year-on-year, while 2,020 sold, representing an 8.1% increase. Total residential funds raised reached £333.8 million, up 4.7% on April 2025.
These figures highlight the continued appeal of auction sales for residential sellers and buyers alike. From vacant homes and refurbishment opportunities to investment properties and probate sales, auctions continue to provide a fast, transparent and reliable route to sale.
For sellers, the auction process creates a clear timescale and encourages committed buyers to compete on the same terms. For buyers, it provides upfront information, open bidding and the confidence of a structured process.
Commercial auction performance was more challenging in April, with activity levels softening compared with the same period last year.
EIG recorded 342 commercial lots offered, down 8.8% year-on-year, while 202 sold, a fall of 25.5%. The commercial success rate reduced to 59.1%, and total funds raised fell to £48.3 million.
While this represents a softer month for commercial property, the longer-term picture remains more balanced. Across the February to April period, commercial lots offered were still up 5.2% year-on-year, with 907 commercial lots sold.
This suggests that experienced buyers remain active, particularly where commercial and mixed-use assets offer clear value, strong yields, redevelopment potential or asset management opportunities. However, as with the wider market, pricing remains key.
Regional performance continues to vary across the UK, with some areas seeing strong growth in both supply and sales, while others have experienced more pressure on success rates.
During the February to April 2026 period, Yorkshire and The Humber and the West Midlands delivered some of the strongest year-on-year growth. Yorkshire and The Humber saw lots offered rise by 31.3%, while lots sold increased by 22.2%. The West Midlands also performed strongly, with lots offered up 18.8% and lots sold up 27.8%.
The South West also recorded healthy growth, with lots offered up 22.5% and lots sold up 17.4%.
However, in several regions, rising supply has placed pressure on sales success rates. This is a natural feature of a market where buyers have more choice and are able to compare opportunities more carefully.
As ever, local market conditions, guide pricing, property type and buyer demand all play a significant role in determining results.
The North West remains one of the UK’s strongest auction regions.
Between February and April 2026, 1,767 lots were offered in the North West, up 16.0% year-on-year, while 1,236 lots sold, an increase of 12.5%. Over the same period, the region raised £161.4 million, up 11.0%.
Residential property continued to drive activity across the region, with 1,626 residential lots offered and 1,136 sold. Total residential funds raised reached £133.7 million, up 7.0% year-on-year.
Commercial performance in the North West was also encouraging. Although commercial lots offered were broadly in line with last year, commercial lots sold increased by 5.3%, while total commercial funds raised rose by 36.0% to £27.7 million.
The overall success rate in the region eased slightly to 69.9%, down from 72.2% last year. This appears to reflect higher stock levels rather than a lack of buyer demand, with well-priced and clearly presented properties continuing to attract strong interest.
Our May online property auction delivered another strong result, with a varied selection of residential, commercial and development opportunities attracting strong interest from buyers.
In total, 33 lots sold, generating over £4.5 million in sales.
These results show that our proven auction strategy continues to provide a clear, efficient and secure route for both buyers and sellers. Buyers benefit from transparency, upfront information and fixed timescales, while sellers benefit from competitive bidding, committed buyers and the certainty of exchange when the hammer falls.
Several May results highlighted the strength of buyer demand where properties were presented with clear potential.
At Rosslyn Road, the property had been inherited by the vendor’s family and required modernisation throughout. With vacant possession and a reserve price of £124,000, the property attracted strong competition and sold for £175,000, achieving £51,000 above reserve.
At Winterdyne Street, the owners had previously let the property but decided to sell after it became vacant. The property was entered into auction with a reserve price of £109,000 and sold for £166,000, significantly exceeding expectations.
St. Kildas Avenue also demonstrated the value of auction for probate-related sales. The vendor was looking for a structured and reliable route to sale following the passing of his sister. With a guide price of £135,000, competitive bidding helped drive the final sale price to £163,000, meeting the vendor’s expectations.
Other results showed how auction can help deliver certainty even where a property has more complex considerations. Kendall Road, which was affected by Japanese knotweed, still generated strong buyer interest and sold above reserve after buyers were able to review the information upfront and bid with confidence.
At Fir Road, the family decided to sell after their mum moved into a care home. Auction provided a clear route forward, generating strong interest and achieving a sale above reserve, with contracts exchanged in just 13 days.
These examples demonstrate why auction remains such a powerful route to sale, particularly where speed, certainty and transparency matter most.
Current market conditions remain encouraging for sellers, particularly where properties are priced sensibly and brought to market with clear information.
National auction activity remains ahead of last year, residential demand continues to support the market, and the North West remains one of the UK’s most active auction regions.
With more stock entering the market, buyers have greater choice, but strong results are still being achieved where properties offer clear value and are marketed effectively.
If you are considering selling a property at auction, our experienced team can guide you through the process and help you understand what your property could achieve.
Our next online property auction will take place on 10th–11th June, and registration to bid is now open.
Edward Mellor has been helping people to buy and sell at auction for over 30 years. Our dedicated and experienced team, combined with our proven auction process, allows us to sell any property, in any condition.
Whether you are selling a vacant home, a tenanted investment, a refurbishment project, a probate property, commercial premises or land, we can help you achieve a competitive price within a fixed timescale.
Get in touch today to arrange a free, no-obligation property appraisal and find out how auction could work for you.
Sources
1 – Essential Auction News – May 2026 Newsletter
2 – May 2026 Auction Results
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