Buyer demand has bounced back after a temporary dip in May due to the unprecedented heatwave that coincided with half term, Rightmove reveals.

Since 22 May, buyer demand dropped by an unseasonal 8% over the course of the following seven-day period, as potential buyers temporarily held off from booking viewings to either soak in or take shelter from the heat.

Buyer demand started to rise again from the start of June as temperatures eased and potential buyers began booking in more viewings.

On 6 June, buyer demand surpassed pre-heatwave levels with normal, seasonal trends resuming.

The number of potential buyers sending enquiries to agents about homes for sale is still lower than at this time last year, but remains stable in line with the trends we’ve seen so far in 2026.

Rightmove property expert Colleen Babcock says: “It’s not unusual for short-term external events like a heatwave or school holidays to have a temporary impact on home-moving activity, and this time we had both at the same time, so it isn’t surprising that some buyers paused their searches or delayed viewings for a few days.”

“What’s more telling is how quickly demand tends to bounce back, as we’re now seeing, with underlying market activity remaining consistent with what we’ve seen in 2026 so far.”

“We regularly see patterns like this in our real-time data, whether it’s seasonal shifts, major events like the World Cup coming up, or even cultural moments influencing behaviour, which is a reminder as to the scale of the Rightmove platform.”