Buyer demand up 13% in January, says Zoopla

Demand for homes increased by 13% in January 2025 compared to the same period the previous year according to the latest house price index (HPI) from property website Zoopla.

Zoopla determines ‘buyer demand’ by measuring activity on its website, such as searches for property, listing homes and making enquiries.

New sales agreed are also up 12% year-on-year in January 2025. 

Meanwhile, the number of homes for sale is at its highest level for seven years, with 31 dwellings on the market per estate agency branch, marking a 10% rise from a year ago.

The index also showed December had the highest level of house price growth since April 2023, with UK prices rising 2% year-on-year.

The increase in demand follows stamp duty changes announced in the Autumn Budget, including the removal of temporary reliefs for first time buyers in April in England and Northern Ireland.

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However Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: “It is important not to read too much into the increase in stamp duty for more buyers from April as three in five first-time buyers will still pay nothing from April.”

He added: “The first few weeks of each year tend to provide a clear indication of how the rest of the year is likely to unfold. 2025 has started well, better than 2024 and 2023 which bodes well for market activity over the rest of the year, supported by evidence of more people looking to move.”