New home registrations across the UK fell by 4% in the second quarter of 2026 as housebuilders faced higher costs, economic uncertainty and weaker demand.
Figures published today by the National House Building Council (NHBC), the UK’s largest provider of new home warranties and insurance, show that 29,162 new homes were registered to be built between April and June. That is down from 30,259 in the same period last year.
Private sector registrations fell by 5% to 19,045, compared with 20,097 a year earlier. Registrations in the rental and affordable housing sector were almost unchanged at 10,117, compared with 10,162 in the second quarter of 2025.
NHBC chief strategy officer Daniel Pearce said higher interest rates, rising costs and geopolitical uncertainty had made conditions more difficult for housebuilders. He said affordability pressures had also reduced demand from buyers, leading many developers to slow their building programmes.
Pearce welcomed prime minister Andy Burnham’s commitment to deliver what has been described as the most ambitious council house-building programme since the post-war era. He said it could help increase the supply of new homes.
He added that the industry wanted more detail about how the programme would be funded and delivered. He also said faster planning decisions, fewer regulatory barriers and measures to improve affordability for buyers would help increase housing supply.
Across the UK, six of the 12 regions recorded fewer registrations than a year earlier. The biggest falls were in the South West, where registrations dropped by 42%, followed by the East Midlands (-36%) and Wales (-34%).
London recorded the biggest increase, with registrations up 170% compared with the second quarter of 2025. The North West (+37%), East of England (+15%), South East (+12%), West Midlands (+7%) and Scotland (+6%) also saw growth.
However, Pearce said London’s figures should be treated with caution. He said registrations in the capital often vary because large developments are registered in batches rather than spread evenly through the year. He said the next two quarters of NHBC data would give a better indication of whether the increase in London is likely to continue.