Source: Sharecast
The housing platform said that buyer demand had dropped 8% over the week commencing 22 May, as unseasonably hot weather coincided with school holidays, prompting potential buyers to hold off from viewings.
Buyer demand returned from 1 June as temperatures eased, and then surpassed pre-heatwave levels on 6 June.
Nevertheless, the number of enquiries about homes for sale is still lower than last year, Rightmove said.
“It’s not unusual for short-term external events like a heatwave or school holidays to have a temporary impact on home-moving activity, and this time we had both at the same time, so it isn’t surprising that some buyers paused their searches or delayed viewings for a few days,” said Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert.
“What’s more telling is how quickly demand tends to bounce back, as we’re now seeing, with underlying market activity remaining consistent with what we’ve seen in 2026 so far.”