Rightmove said Boxing Day 2025 was the busiest day on record for visits to its website, pointing to a stronger-than-usual seasonal lift in housing market activity as the year drew to a close.
Traffic to the property portal jumped sharply between Christmas Day, typically the quietest day of the year, and Boxing Day, with visits up 93% as buyers returned online in large numbers. The company did not disclose absolute visitor numbers.
The surge in activity was led by the South East, the East of England and London, where new buyer and seller engagement was highest. Smaller homes dominated new listings, with properties offering two bedrooms or fewer proving the most popular. These are often aimed at first-time buyers.
Momentum carried through into the final days of December. Rightmove said inquiries sent to estate agents rose 67% when comparing December 26 to 30 with the period from December 20 to 24. New instructions also increased sharply, with the number of homes coming to market up 143% as sellers sought to catch demand while buyer interest was elevated.
The backdrop was more supportive. The Bank of England cut its base rate from 4% to 3.75% in December, while several lenders trimmed mortgage rates.
Steve Pimblett, chief data officer at Rightmove, said the figures suggest a busy start to 2026, with many movers keen to move on from last year’s uncertainty and make fresh plans.