Estate agents are increasing their backlog of unsold homes as fewer listings convert into completed sales, according to new analysis.
PropertyData figures cited in GetAgent’s research show that monthly sales turnover – measured as the proportion of listed homes sold within a given month – has declined in most areas over the past year. Comparing April 2025 to April 2026, the data suggests a broad-based slowdown in how fast stocks are being absorbed.
Across England, the average monthly turnover rate has fallen from 17% to 14%. While new properties are coming onto the market, a smaller share is being sold each month, increasing the amount of unsold stock with agents.
Every English region recorded a decline. The North East saw the largest decline, from 24% to 20%, although it remains the strongest performing region overall. The East of England fell from 14% to 12%, with similar declines seen in the South East and West Midlands.
In London, turnover has fallen from 12% to 9%, meaning less than one in ten homes listed is selling each month.
Wales was the only region to escape the decline, with turnover falling by around 13%.
The data points to a market where transactions are taking longer to complete, leading to higher levels of unsold stock with agents and slower churn rates among existing listings.
Colby Short, co-founder and CEO of GetAgent, commented: “At the core level, there is still a lot of activity in the market, but the pace at which homes are selling has slowed markedly compared to last year.
“This has left many agents with pipelines that look OK on paper, but take longer to convert into completed deals, which puts a real strain on time, resources and ultimately cash flow.
“From what we’re seeing, a key part of managing a slow market is setting expectations early. Sellers often underestimate how long it can take to secure a buyer, especially if they’re working towards a specific move-in date, and don’t always negotiate with an agent far enough in advance.
“The agents performing best in the current environment are those who are setting realistic pricing from the beginning and carefully qualifying sellers.”