Rightmove has revealed that buyer demand has rebounded after a temporary dip in May due to the unprecedented heatwave that coincided with half term.
Since May 22, buyer demand fell by an unseasonal 8% over the next seven-day period, as potential buyers temporarily refrained from booking showings to either shower or take shelter from the heat.
Buyer demand began to rise again from the beginning of June as temperatures dropped and potential buyers began booking in for more viewings.
On June 6, buyer demand surpassed pre-heatwave levels as normal seasonal trends resumed.
The number of potential buyers sending inquiries to agents about homes for sale is still lower than at this time last year, but remains stable and in line with the trends we have seen so far in 2026.
Correct movement Property expert Colleen Babcock says: “It is not unusual for short-term external events such as a heatwave or school holidays to have a temporary impact on house moving activity, and this time both have happened at the same time, so it is not surprising that some buyers are pausing their searches or delaying viewings for a few days.”
“What’s even more telling is how quickly demand tends to rebound, as we’re seeing now, with underlying market activity remaining consistent with what we’ve seen in 2026 so far.”
“We regularly see patterns like this in our real-time data, whether seasonal shifts, major events like the upcoming World Cup, or even cultural moments that influence behaviour, which is a reminder of the scale of the Rightmove platform.”
