A brief increase in buyer activity can be useful context for a sale, provided it is read alongside evidence from the individual property. It should not become a promise that a home will sell quickly or achieve a higher price.
What Rightmove reported
In a report dated 9 September 2026, Rightmove said buyer demand rose 5% in the opening week of September, compared with a 0.4% average increase over the corresponding period in the previous five years. London recorded a 9% increase and the South West 8%. Rightmove also said demand remained below the previous year’s level.
Keep the comparison period visible
Those figures describe a short early-September movement in Rightmove’s demand measure. They do not describe completed transactions, the whole month or a change in achieved sale prices. A weekly improvement and a weaker year-on-year position can exist together because they compare different periods.
Ask for evidence from your listing
If you are selling, ask the agent to distinguish online interest, viewing enquiries, completed viewings and offers. Discuss the feedback behind those numbers. A rise in attention is more useful when it leads to enquiries from buyers whose requirements match the property.
Review decisions on their own merits
Keep pricing, presentation and timing under review using comparable sales and direct feedback. For buyers, a market headline is a reason to stay informed, not a reason to skip checks or exceed a carefully considered budget. Reassess the situation as new evidence arrives rather than extending one week’s movement into a forecast.
The figures above are a dated report of September activity, not a live market indicator.
Editorial review: 15 October 2026. This original Property Perpetuity guide replaces the imported text; the original archive publication date is retained.