Sussex Property News: House Prices Cool After Stamp Duty Shift

Houses in a Sussex town with the South Downs behind

The wider market cooled this month as the spring stamp-duty rush unwound and mortgage rates stayed high, while Sussex prices held broadly steady. Here is where things stand for anyone planning a move.

UK house prices dipped in June

Nationwide reported that UK house prices fell in June, as the burst of activity earlier in the year faded once stamp-duty thresholds dropped back in April. Buyers had brought purchases forward to beat the higher bills, leaving demand softer through the second half of the period. Source: Nationwide via Yahoo Finance.

Mortgage rates remain above 5%

Borrowing costs are still weighing on demand. The average two-year fixed rate sat at around 5.68% at the start of June, up from roughly 4.83% in early March, which continues to stretch affordability for movers. Source: MoneyWeek.

The Sussex picture

Locally, prices have held up better than the national trend. The average home in Mid Sussex was around 436,000 pounds in March 2026, up about 1.5% on a year earlier, according to ONS data, while the average across West Sussex is near 444,877 pounds. Source: ONS.

What it means if you are moving

A flatter market and higher rates make budgeting carefully more important than timing the market. Work out your stamp duty before you offer and build in the full cost of the move. Our stamp duty calculator and guide to the cost of moving house in Sussex can help you plan.