Market Insights June 2026

Please see our June Market Insights below, sharing the trends shaping prime central London property this month.

As always, the team and I would be delighted to answer any questions or discuss the market in more detail. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Best wishes

Jo Eccles

Founder and Managing Director, Eccord

+44 (0) 20 7244 4482

jo.eccles@eccord.com

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Political change adds another layer of uncertainty

The £2m - £10m property market continues to be constrained by current interest rates and the cost of stamp duty. Of those buyers who are active, a large proportion have been renting long term and searching for one to two years; they’re now at the point where they want life to move on.

Prime and super prime buyers are often more discretionary and highly sensitive to political and tax uncertainty. Whilst there have been some significant £50m - £250m super prime trophy transactions in recent months – some of which are in the press and others not – the prospect of a new Prime Minister in the coming weeks will add to this.

If Andy Burnham secures the Labour leadership unopposed, he could enter Downing Street as soon as 17th July, and buyers will be watching closely over the summer for cabinet appointments and early signals of policy direction. The detail is unlikely to emerge until the autumn, so we expect to see many discretionary buyers postponing decision-making until there is greater certainty.

With buyer numbers muted, this summer looks set to be dominated by Americans, who currently account for 40% of our clients, searching for permanent homes or pied a terres. Many describe themselves as Anglophiles and have a true appreciation for London as a place to work and raise a family, or a base and gateway to other European destinations such as the Alps and the Mediterranean.

London in demand for the summer

Our Home Management team have been busy preparing London homes for international clients spending time here over the coming weeks. Many are coming for the UK’s coveted summer fixtures such as Royal Ascot and Wimbledon tennis – as one American client recently said to us, “British summers are the best summers”. 

Pre-arrival preparations have included ensuring AC systems are working correctly, or sourcing portable AC units, arranging landscaper visits to ensure gardens and balcony plants are refreshed, placing adaptor chargers in each room, attending the property to accept grocery deliveries and specialist baby food, and coordinating summer wardrobes to be dry cleaned.

Whilst our Home Management service focuses on the smooth running of properties in terms of servicing and maintenance, we also provide peace of mind and support on the ground for when clients aren’t in the UK, charged on an hourly basis or an annual retainer. 

This has been one of our most sought after services in the past few years and in some cases it’s enabled homeowners to broaden the type of properties they will consider buying, knowing that they can have support without the need for a 24-hour concierge and the high service charge that comes with it.

Conversations around downsizing

We have advised many downsizers over the years, and the topic has come up frequently in recent months with clients whose parents are going through the process, or are thinking about it. They have spoken about the challenges of supporting ageing parents through the decision and the often-complex family dynamics surrounding it – from conversations around future health and independence, to the practical and financial implications of releasing capital for the next generation.

One banker who would like to encourage his parents to downsize from their large family home in Fulham, was worried that raising the topic might appear as though he’s angling for an early inheritance for his siblings, whereas in fact, he’s trying to prolong their mobility and have them move away from steep stairs, but he felt he couldn’t speak out.

I wrote my most recent column in The Daily Telegraph sharing advice for anyone going through this process - read more. Whether you’re considering downsizing yourself or you’re the next generation, I would be happy to provide any guidance if helpful.

Celebrating 20 years of Eccord

It’s Eccord’s 20th birthday this month and I still absolutely love what we do.

I set up the company in 2006 because the property market was so imbalanced and one-sided, with sellers being represented by selling agents, but buyers having no professional representation when searching for a property or negotiating. 

Since then, we have expanded over the years into rental and relocation searches, as well as property management services, managing rental properties for landlords and private homes for homeowners. Our growth has been driven by requests from clients and we have designed our services around their needs.

I am incredibly proud of our team who make Eccord what it is, combining technical knowledge, emotional intelligence and the experience that comes with having successfully navigated clients through different market conditions across 400 purchases and more than 150 properties under management. True independence also plays a large role in the outcomes we achieve.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey over the past 20 years and especially to our clients and wider network for trusting us to be part of such important decisions, milestones and financial investments. Exceptional advice and going above and beyond continues to underpin everything we do.

Here’s to the next chapter!