Quiddity Group Podcast S6 E1 – Auction Market Update: Purchases, Trends & the Changing Auction Landscape

Quiddity Group Podcast S6 E1 – Auction Market Update: Purchases, Trends & the Changing Auction Landscape

Season 6 of the Quiddity Group Podcast opens with an in-depth discussion on the changing UK property market, the current auction landscape and what investors need to understand when buying property at auction in 2026.

In this episode, Azid Gungah is joined by Olivia Boulting, Director at Strettons, alongside an experienced commercial property broker, bringing together perspectives from the auction room, finance market and active property investment.

The UK property market has changed significantly over the past few years. The Bank of England began increasing interest rates in late 2021, with Bank Rate eventually reaching 5.25%, before reductions brought it down to 3.75% by December 2025. As of September 2026, Bank Rate remains at 3.75%, while UK inflation stands at 3.1%, above the Bank of England’s 2% target.

Higher borrowing costs, changing lender appetite and uncertainty across the global economy are continuing to influence both residential and commercial property. The Bank of England reported in September 2026 that property market sentiment had softened further, with transactions down compared with last year in many areas and particularly challenging conditions across London and the South East. Commercial property investment is also being affected by higher finance and construction costs.

But what does all of this mean inside the auction room?

Auction activity remains significant. Figures reported by Essential Information Group showed 4,424 lots were offered in July 2026, with 2,864 selling – a 64.7% sale rate – and almost £540 million raised. Over the previous 12 months, nearly 40,000 residential lots had been offered at auction.

Strettons' own recent results also demonstrate continuing buyer activity, recording an 89% sale rate and £9.79m raised in July 2026, followed by 79% sold and £7.68m raised in September.

Throughout the episode, the panel explores how rising finance costs have changed buyer behaviour, why guide prices and seller expectations matter more than ever, and where experienced investors are still identifying opportunities.

They also discuss:

• How the auction market has changed over recent years • The impact of interest rates on investor demand and property values • How global economic uncertainty feeds into UK property • Why some properties perform extremely well at auction while others struggle • Guide prices, reserves and bidding behaviour • Commercial and residential auction opportunities • Funding an auction purchase in today's lending environment • Due diligence before bidding • What investors commonly get wrong when buying at auction • How professional investors assess opportunities differently • Where the auction and wider property market could be heading next

At Quiddity Group, auctions remain an important source of acquisitions, particularly when searching for blocks of flats, value-add opportunities and properties with multiple exit strategies.

This conversation provides a behind-the-scenes look at the market from professionals operating directly within it – combining the auctioneer, broker and investor perspectives at a time when finance, sentiment and property values are continuing to adjust.

Whether you're already purchasing at auction or considering your first deal, this episode offers an insight into how experienced professionals are approaching the 2026 UK property market.

Quiddity Group Podcast – Season 6, Episode 1 Featuring Olivia Boulting, Director at Strettons, with commercial property and investment market insights.