Biggest ever 'Boxing Day bounce' signals busy 2026 for housing market

Rightmove recorded its busiest ever Boxing Day for visits as home-hunters began preparations for a potential 2026 move. 

Boxing Day has traditionally signalled the start of the busier home-moving season after what is typically the quietest period for activity during the festive month of December.

Visits to the Rightmove website across all channels were higher on Boxing Day 2025 than in 2024, which was the previous record for visits to the Rightmove platform.

Visits to Rightmove nearly doubled (+93%) between the quietest day of the year on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, as potential movers swapped board games and Christmas specials for home-hunting. This was a bigger bounce in visits to Rightmove than last year, when the increase was 87%.

The number of people sending enquiries to estate agents to go and view homes for sale increased by 67% in the five days after Christmas compared to the five days before Christmas.

Meanwhile, the number of new properties being listed for sale on Rightmove more than doubled (+143%) in the five days after Christmas compared to the five days before Christmas, as sellers worked with expert agents to launch their homes when there are more potential buyers browsing. 

New buyer and seller activity this Boxing Day was busiest in the South East, East of England and London.

The most popular type of homes to be listed for sale on Boxing Day were smaller 0-2 bedroom properties, which first-time buyers typically aim for.

Steve Pimblett, Rightmove’s chief data officer, commented: “It’s early days but Boxing Day’s data suggests agents could have a busy start to 2026 after a quieter festive period during December, which was also impacted by the lateness of the Budget and the uncertainty around potential policies in the lead up to it. Record breaking visit numbers indicates many are looking to put some of the uncertainty of last year behind them and get going with a 2026 move.”