Britain's housing-market slowdown showed signs of stabilizing in August 2026, with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors reporting less-negative measures of buyer demand, prices and sales expectations. RICS's house-price balance rose to -28 from an upwardly revised -29 in July, its highest level in five months, while the net balance for new buyer enquiries reached -19, the strongest reading since January. The sales expectations balance improved to -3 from -13. Tarrant Parsons, RICS head of market analytics, said activity indicators were gradually becoming less negative but cautioned that any recovery remained fragile. Members still expected prices to fall over the next three months, although they anticipated broadly stable prices over a 12-month horizon. London recorded the largest negative price balance, while Northern Ireland reported price increases, highlighting regional divergence. Rent expectations strengthened to +44 from +33 as tenant demand rose and landlord property supply declined. RICS said anticipated interest-rate increases and stronger property taxation after the government's October annual budget announcement could weigh on prices. The correction, which began in late 2022 after mortgage rates rose sharply during the Bank of England's rate-hiking cycle, has gradually eased as borrowing costs peaked. Separate data showed mixed conditions: Lloyds reported a 0.4% annual fall in house prices in August, while Nationwide recorded a 1.6% rise. The Office for National Statistics reported rents up 3.7% annually in July and house prices up 2.0% in the 12 months to June.