Market insight – How high inventory and slower price growth are reshaping the London property market

If you’re a Malaysian investor looking at the UK property market, the tide is surely turning in your favour. More homes on the market and a slower pace means overseas buyers have ample room to negotiate.

Zoopla’s July 2026 data shows nationwide price growth cooling to 1.3% down from last year’s 1.7%. While overall UK home values went up by £3,400 this year, London prices dipped by £3,270. Still, London commands a massive premium: at £676,248 on average, it sits a whopping 82% higher than the £372,359 UK baseline.

Key market highlights (July 2026)

• UK Price growth: Eased to a modest 1.3% year-on-year
• London adjustment: Capital property prices dipped by an average of £3,270.
• National vs Capital premium: Average London asking prices sat at £676,248, roughly 82% above the UK average of £372,359.
• High inventory: Property listings remained close to a 12-year peak
• Sales volume: Agreed sales ran 9% lower in comparison to the previous year
• Mortgage rates: Average UK borrowing costs held around 4.75%

Summer slowdown & political clarity open window for autumn

Data from Rightmove shows summer heatwaves temporarily cooled down buyer demand by 8% in May, 6% in June and 4% in July. Meanwhile local buyers put a hold to their plans to see how things settled after Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham took over as Prime Minister on July 20, 2026. Now that the dust has cleared off and plenty of homes are still available, Malaysian investors have a sweet spot to grab top properties before the autumn rush kicks in.
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Why realistic pricing matters

Accurate initial pricing stays an important factor for sellers and investors monitoring liquidity:

• 74% of successful sales finished at the original asking price without discounts
• Mortgage rates: Average UK borrowing costs held around 4.75%

​Use our free online valuation tool for an instant appraisal of your London property.

Borough spotlight: Haringey & Camden lead growth

Although the overall capital values dipped slightly, real estate performance across London stays completely localised. Areas like Haringey and Camden keep beating the overall market, making them great picks for overseas buyers. Here is how the top-performing boroughs shaped up in June 2026:

Bank rate held at 3.75% adds market certainty

At its July 30 meeting, the Bank of England kept the base rate steady at 3.75%. This decision marks its fifth hold of the year (and fourth consecutive hold since the rate cut to 3.75% in December). With June inflation easing to 2.6%, this steady economic environment gives international investors a reliable foundation for long-term planning.

​Benham and Reeves continues to work closely with buyers across Asia. Get in touch with our Kuala Lumpur team or local London branches to talk about buying, selling or letting your UK property assets.