The first Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) UK Residential Market Survey of 2026 reveals encouraging early signs of stabilisation across the wider UK housing market and Scotland is a notable outperformer within that trend.
While overall activity remains subdued, the latest figures suggest Scotland’s housing sector is gaining momentum relative to many parts of the rest of the UK, driven by rising demand, growing supply and improving sentiment backed by stronger price balances.
Signs of Stabilisation Across the UK but Scotland Stands Out
Nationally, RICS reported that key indicators such as new buyer enquiries and agreed sales recorded their least negative readings in several months in January. The UK house price balance - the difference between surveyors reporting rising versus falling prices - climbed to -10%, the strongest position since mid-2025. Surveyors suggest this gradual improvement reflects easing downward pressure on activity and a potential turning point.
However, this broad improvement masks significant regional divergence - and this is where Scotland’s story distinguishes itself. While many areas of southern England continued to show weaker market signals, Scotland was among the regions reporting positive price trends, alongside Northern Ireland and parts of northern England. 
Positive Momentum in Scottish Demand and Supply
According to the RICS data specific to Scotland:
- A net balance of 21% of Scottish survey respondents reported rising buyer enquiries in January — signalling renewed interest from prospective purchasers.
- On the supply side, a net balance of 27% indicated an increase in instructions to sell, marking a meaningful uplift compared to late 2025.
This dual rise in both demand and supply is notable - markets often stall when one side is weak. In Scotland’s case, increased vendor participation is helping to lift transactional activity, a welcome shift from the lacklustre listings seen through much of 2025.
House Prices: Rising in Scotland While Softening Elsewhere
Perhaps the most striking contrast with the wider UK market is in house prices. Across the UK headline data, prices still showed downward pressure in the opening part of the year, but the pace of decline was moderating.
In Scotland, by contrast:
- A net balance of 42% of respondents reported house prices rising over the past three months - the strongest such reading in nearly a year.
- Futures outlooks were also positive, with 23% expecting prices to rise over the next three months and 55% anticipating higher prices over the coming year.
This optimism around price growth places Scotland in a comparatively robust position relative to parts of the UK where house price readings remain more negative.
Sales Activity and Forward Expectations
While the share of Scottish surveyors reporting actual agreed sales was modestly positive in January - a net balance of 2% - it’s the forward-looking indicators that tell a stronger story.
A net balance of 34% of Scottish respondents anticipate higher sales volumes over the next three months, suggesting that the market’s momentum may strengthen as we move into spring. This aligns with buyer sentiment trends identified elsewhere in the UK, where sentiment for the next 12 months has climbed to its most positive level in over a year.
What This Means for Buyers, Sellers and Investors in Scotland
Scotland’s relative outperformance in early 2026 underscores several important themes:
Investors and market watchers should note the strength of expectations around price and sales growth, which point to a more resilient Scottish market compared with the UK average.
Broader UK stagnation has eased slightly, but much of England remains weaker in terms of price balance and buyer enquiry. Scotland is bucking that trend, showing positive momentum through rising enquiries, listings and price expectations.
Affordability in Scotland remains competitive when compared with pricier UK regions, supporting continued buyer activity even in a cautious macro environment.
For sellers, improving instructions signal growing confidence in achieving successful transactions as the year progresses.
Outlook: Gradual, But Favourable
The RICS survey cautions that any recovery is likely to be gradual given subdued overall activity and ongoing economic uncertainty. But Scotland’s indicators - particularly in pricing and sentiment - suggest the Scottish housing market may be advancing ahead of the broader UK curve as 2026 unfolds.
For buyers, sellers and strategists alike, these trends highlight a Scottish market that remains dynamic and forward-looking, even amid wider UK softness.
