Property auction activity continued to increase in May, with the number of lots brought to market rising faster than sales volumes, resulting in a slight easing of success rates.
Across the UK, 3,988 lots were offered during the month, up 6.1% on the same period last year, while the number of properties sold increased by 3.4%. As supply outpaced demand, the national success rate edged down to 67%, although total funds raised remained broadly unchanged at £526.9m.
The residential sector continued to drive overall market performance, with the value of completed sales rising by 2.1% year-on-year. Commercial auctions also recorded an increase in the number of lots sold, despite a decline in the total value raised.
Regionally, Yorkshire and The Humber and the South West remained among the strongest-performing areas over the three months to May, posting increases in lots offered, lots sold and total funds raised. London also recorded growth in both sales activity and value raised, while the West Midlands continued its recent positive run. Scotland saw the sharpest rise in auction activity levels, although success rates north of the border remain below the national average.
David Sandeman, managing director of EIG, which provided the data, commented: “Overall, the auction market remains ahead of last year’s levels, with growth in both supply and sales volumes continuing across much of the UK. However, the increase in stock coming to market is continuing to place some pressure on success rates. As the market moves into the summer period, activity levels remain healthy, supported by a steady flow of stock and sustained buyer demand.”
National Auction Analysis
Overall
N.B. Figures in brackets denote the comparative period last year
| May 2026 | March 2026 to May 2026 | June 2025 to May 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 3,990 (3,757) | ▲ 6.2% | 11,685 (10,436) | ▲ 12.0% | 43,878 (39,953) | ▲ 9.8% |
| Lots Sold | 2,683 (2,582) | ▲ 3.9% | 7,891 (7,166) | ▲ 10.1% | 30,441 (28,097) | ▲ 8.3% |
| Percent Sold | 67.2% (68.7%) | ▼ 2.2% | 67.5% (68.7%) | ▼ 1.7% | 69.4% (70.3%) | ▼ 1.3% |
| Total Raised | £528.6M (£526.4M) | ▲ 0.4% | £1,498.9M (£1,401.4M) | ▲ 7.0% | £6,063.7M (£5,626.5M) | ▲ 7.8% |
Residential
N.B. Figures in brackets denote the comparative period last year
| May 2026 | March 2026 to May 2026 | June 2025 to May 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 3,493 (3,333) | ▲ 4.8% | 10,397 (9,266) | ▲ 12.2% | 38,936 (35,323) | ▲ 10.2% |
| Lots Sold | 2,331 (2,294) | ▲ 1.6% | 7,012 (6,344) | ▲ 10.5% | 27,066 (24,850) | ▲ 8.9% |
| Percent Sold | 66.7% (68.8%) | ▼ 3.1% | 67.4% (68.5%) | ▼ 1.6% | 69.5% (70.4%) | ▼ 1.3% |
| Total Raised | £436.8M (£426.5M) | ▲ 2.4% | £1,223.4M (£1,127.6M) | ▲ 8.5% | £4,983.3M (£4,506.3M) | ▲ 10.6% |
Commercial
N.B. Figures in brackets denote the comparative period last year
| May 2026 | March 2026 to May 2026 | June 2025 to May 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 497 (424) | ▲ 17.2% | 1,288 (1,170) | ▲ 10.1% | 4,942 (4,630) | ▲ 6.7% |
| Lots Sold | 352 (288) | ▲ 22.2% | 879 (822) | ▲ 6.9% | 3,375 (3,247) | ▲ 3.9% |
| Percent Sold | 70.8% (67.9%) | ▲ 4.3% | 68.2% (70.3%) | ▼ 3.0% | 68.3% (70.1%) | ▼ 2.6% |
| Total Raised | £91.8M (£100.0M) | ▼ 8.2% | £275.6M (£273.8M) | ▲ 0.6% | £1,080.4M (£1,120.2M) | ▼ 3.5% |
Regional Auction Analysis
As is usually the case, variations across all the measurable parameters can be seen across the regions.
N.B. Figures in brackets denote the comparative period last year
East Anglia
(Includes Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk)
| March 2026 to May 2026 | Total | Residential | Commercial | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 541 (528) | ▲ 2.5% | 496 (472) | ▲ 5.1% | 45 (56) | ▼ 19.6% |
| Lots Sold | 367 (361) | ▲ 1.7% | 331 (326) | ▲ 1.5% | 36 (35) | ▲ 2.9% |
| Percent Sold | 67.8% (68.4%) | ▼ 0.9% | 66.7% (69.1%) | ▼ 3.5% | 80.0% (62.5%) | ▲ 28.0% |
| Total Raised | £76.5M (£64.7M) | ▲ 18.2% | £69.7M (£56.8M) | ▲ 22.6% | £6.8M (£7.9M) | ▼ 13.9% |
East Midlands
(Includes Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland)
| March 2026 to May 2026 | Total | Residential | Commercial | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 878 (852) | ▲ 3.1% | 786 (757) | ▲ 3.8% | 92 (95) | ▼ 3.2% |
| Lots Sold | 585 (600) | ▼ 2.5% | 521 (526) | ▼ 1.0% | 64 (74) | ▼ 13.5% |
| Percent Sold | 66.6% (70.4%) | ▼ 5.4% | 66.3% (69.5%) | ▼ 4.6% | 69.6% (77.9%) | ▼ 10.7% |
| Total Raised | £98.0M (£100.7M) | ▼ 2.6% | £71.7M (£73.5M) | ▼ 2.4% | £26.3M (£27.2M) | ▼ 3.3% |
London
| March 2026 to May 2026 | Total | Residential | Commercial | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 877 (792) | ▲ 10.7% | 831 (713) | ▲ 16.5% | 46 (79) | ▼ 41.8% |
| Lots Sold | 647 (574) | ▲ 12.7% | 609 (513) | ▲ 18.7% | 38 (61) | ▼ 37.7% |
| Percent Sold | 73.8% (72.5%) | ▲ 1.8% | 73.3% (71.9%) | ▲ 1.9% | 82.6% (77.2%) | ▲ 7.0% |
| Total Raised | £274.2M (£257.4M) | ▲ 6.5% | £243.3M (£216.3M) | ▲ 12.5% | £30.9M (£41.1M) | ▼ 24.9% |
North-East
(Includes Cleveland, County Durham, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear)
| March 2026 to May 2026 | Total | Residential | Commercial | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 723 (659) | ▲ 9.7% | 683 (594) | ▲ 15.0% | 40 (65) | ▼ 38.5% |
| Lots Sold | 504 (470) | ▲ 7.2% | 479 (418) | ▲ 14.6% | 25 (52) | ▼ 51.9% |
| Percent Sold | 69.7% (71.3%) | ▼ 2.2% | 70.1% (70.4%) | ▼ 0.4% | 62.5% (80.0%) | ▼ 21.9% |
| Total Raised | £44.2M (£42.3M) | ▲ 4.4% | £35.1M (£30.1M) | ▲ 16.5% | £9.1M (£12.2M) | ▼ 25.6% |
North-West
(Includes Cheshire, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Merseyside)
| March 2026 to May 2026 | Total | Residential | Commercial | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 1,790 (1,525) | ▲ 17.4% | 1,655 (1,396) | ▲ 18.6% | 135 (129) | ▲ 4.7% |
| Lots Sold | 1,199 (1,058) | ▲ 13.3% | 1,113 (971) | ▲ 14.6% | 86 (87) | ▼ 1.1% |
| Percent Sold | 67.0% (69.4%) | ▼ 3.5% | 67.3% (69.6%) | ▼ 3.3% | 63.7% (67.4%) | ▼ 5.5% |
| Total Raised | £148.7M (£140.6M) | ▲ 5.8% | £128.4M (£124.9M) | ▲ 2.8% | £20.3M (£15.7M) | ▲ 29.5% |
North-West Home Counties
(Includes Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Oxfordshire)
| March 2026 to May 2026 | Total | Residential | Commercial | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 730 (729) | ▲ 0.1% | 635 (652) | ▼ 2.6% | 95 (77) | ▲ 23.4% |
| Lots Sold | 515 (506) | ▲ 1.8% | 446 (450) | ▼ 0.9% | 69 (56) | ▲ 23.2% |
| Percent Sold | 70.5% (69.4%) | ▲ 1.6% | 70.2% (69.0%) | ▲ 1.7% | 72.6% (72.7%) | ▼ 0.1% |
| Total Raised | £148.7M (£137.1M) | ▲ 8.5% | £118.3M (£105.6M) | ▲ 12.0% | £30.5M (£31.5M) | ▼ 3.2% |
Northern Ireland
| March 2026 to May 2026 | Total | Residential | Commercial | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 89 (78) | ▲ 14.1% | 53 (59) | ▼ 10.2% | 36 (19) | ▲ 89.5% |
| Lots Sold | 49 (37) | ▲ 32.4% | 31 (23) | ▲ 34.8% | 18 (14) | ▲ 28.6% |
| Percent Sold | 55.1% (47.4%) | ▲ 16.2% | 58.5% (39.0%) | ▲ 50.0% | 50.0% (73.7%) | ▼ 32.2% |
| Total Raised | £5.1M (£4.9M) | ▲ 4.1% | £3.3M (£2.5M) | ▲ 32.2% | £1.8M (£2.4M) | ▼ 25.8% |
Scotland
| March 2026 to May 2026 | Total | Residential | Commercial | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 374 (251) | ▲ 49.0% | 270 (161) | ▲ 67.7% | 104 (90) | ▲ 15.6% |
| Lots Sold | 145 (91) | ▲ 59.3% | 128 (74) | ▲ 73.0% | 17 (17) | ▼ 0.0% |
| Percent Sold | 38.8% (36.3%) | ▲ 6.9% | 47.4% (46.0%) | ▲ 3.0% | 16.3% (18.9%) | ▼ 13.8% |
| Total Raised | £15.1M (£8.6M) | ▲ 76.1% | £12.5M (£6.1M) | ▲ 103.6% | £2.6M (£2.5M) | ▲ 7.7% |
South-East Home Counties
(Includes Channel Islands, East Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Surrey, West Sussex)
| March 2026 to May 2026 | Total | Residential | Commercial | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 1,615 (1,582) | ▲ 2.1% | 1,467 (1,466) | ▲ 0.1% | 148 (116) | ▲ 27.6% |
| Lots Sold | 1,048 (1,049) | ▼ 0.1% | 937 (959) | ▼ 2.3% | 111 (90) | ▲ 23.3% |
| Percent Sold | 64.9% (66.3%) | ▼ 2.1% | 63.9% (65.4%) | ▼ 2.3% | 75.0% (77.6%) | ▼ 3.4% |
| Total Raised | £235.5M (£249.2M) | ▼ 5.5% | £192.3M (£201.6M) | ▼ 4.6% | £43.2M (£47.6M) | ▼ 9.1% |
South-West
(Includes Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Isles of Scilly, Somerset, Wiltshire)
| March 2026 to May 2026 | Total | Residential | Commercial | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 1,172 (937) | ▲ 25.1% | 949 (808) | ▲ 17.5% | 223 (129) | ▲ 72.9% |
| Lots Sold | 838 (687) | ▲ 22.0% | 663 (585) | ▲ 13.3% | 175 (102) | ▲ 71.6% |
| Percent Sold | 71.5% (73.3%) | ▼ 2.5% | 69.9% (72.4%) | ▼ 3.5% | 78.5% (79.1%) | ▼ 0.8% |
| Total Raised | £169.3M (£139.4M) | ▲ 21.5% | £128.1M (£114.1M) | ▲ 12.2% | £41.2M (£25.3M) | ▲ 63.1% |
Wales
| March 2026 to May 2026 | Total | Residential | Commercial | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 686 (653) | ▲ 5.1% | 584 (546) | ▲ 7.0% | 102 (107) | ▼ 4.7% |
| Lots Sold | 443 (423) | ▲ 4.7% | 370 (350) | ▲ 5.7% | 73 (73) | ▼ 0.0% |
| Percent Sold | 64.6% (64.8%) | ▼ 0.3% | 63.4% (64.1%) | ▼ 1.1% | 71.6% (68.2%) | ▲ 5.0% |
| Total Raised | £60.2M (£53.2M) | ▲ 13.2% | £42.3M (£37.9M) | ▲ 11.6% | £17.9M (£15.3M) | ▲ 17.0% |
West Midlands
(Includes Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire)
| March 2026 to May 2026 | Total | Residential | Commercial | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 1,167 (1,072) | ▲ 8.9% | 1,043 (965) | ▲ 8.1% | 124 (107) | ▲ 15.9% |
| Lots Sold | 837 (769) | ▲ 8.8% | 746 (686) | ▲ 8.7% | 91 (83) | ▲ 9.6% |
| Percent Sold | 71.7% (71.7%) | ▼ 0.0% | 71.5% (71.1%) | ▲ 0.6% | 73.4% (77.6%) | ▼ 5.4% |
| Total Raised | £139.6M (£129.3M) | ▲ 7.9% | £111.9M (£105.4M) | ▲ 6.2% | £27.6M (£24.0M) | ▲ 15.3% |
Yorkshire and The Humber
(Includes North Humberside, North Yorkshire, South Humberside, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire)
| March 2026 to May 2026 | Total | Residential | Commercial | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lots Offered | 1,043 (778) | ▲ 34.1% | 945 (677) | ▲ 39.6% | 98 (101) | ▼ 3.0% |
| Lots Sold | 714 (541) | ▲ 32.0% | 638 (463) | ▲ 37.8% | 76 (78) | ▼ 2.6% |
| Percent Sold | 68.5% (69.5%) | ▼ 1.4% | 67.5% (68.4%) | ▼ 1.3% | 77.6% (77.2%) | ▲ 0.5% |
| Total Raised | £83.8M (£73.9M) | ▲ 13.3% | £66.4M (£52.7M) | ▲ 26.1% | £17.4M (£21.3M) | ▼ 18.4% |
Disclaimer: The figures are based on sales data provided to us by the auctioneers.
Read the orginal article: https://propertyindustryeye.com/more-homes-going-under-the-hammer/
