A net balance of minus 23% one year. Plus 24% the next, and plus 31% in London. Few housing indicators reverse that sharply in twelve months, yet that is exactly what has happened, according to fresh data reported by Property Industry Eye and Estate Agent Today on 29 September 2026. The London movers 2026 Savills survey captured around 1,100 prospective buyers and sellers, and the headline number tells a story of pent-up demand finally breaking free. The catch: there are not enough homes to satisfy it, and that shortage is quietly reshaping how London homeowners plan to stay put and build instead.
For anyone weighing a move this autumn, or a loft conversion, basement dig, or side-return extension instead, the survey results carry practical weight. They also point directly to a legal process many Londoners forget until it is too late: the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
Key Takeaways
- The London movers 2026 Savills survey found a net balance of +24% of respondents nationally plan to move in the next 12 months, up sharply from -23% a year earlier.
- London leads the country at +31%, ahead of +24% in the regions, with relocating buyers even more confident at +38%.
- Location remains king: 58% call it the least negotiable factor, and 40% prioritise proximity to family.
- Just 17% cite insufficient stock as a barrier to moving, a small percentage in survey terms, but a huge number of households in absolute terms across a city of London’s size.
- With fewer homes to buy, many owners will extend, convert, or dig down instead, triggering Party Wall Act obligations that buyers and sellers both need to understand.
What the London Movers 2026 Savills Survey Actually Found
The scale of the swing is the headline. A net balance of -23% twelve months ago meant more people planned to stay than move. That has flipped to +24% nationally, and the London movers 2026 Savills survey shows the capital pulling ahead of every other region.
Key figures from the survey include:
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| National net balance planning to move (12 months) | +24% |
| London net balance | +31% |
| Regional average (outside London) | +24% |
| Relocating buyers | +38% |
| Would move if more location choice existed | 34% |
| Say location is non-negotiable | 58% |
| Prioritise proximity to family | 40% |
Frances McDonald, research director at Savills, summed up the market dynamic behind these numbers: “quality stock is still moving quickly,” with “demand for turnkey homes in the right location remaining strong.” That single line explains why confidence is high but choice is thin, buyers want ready-to-live-in homes in specific postcodes, and those homes sell fast when they appear.
Why Location Confidence Is Rising Faster Than Supply
The London movers 2026 Savills survey paints a picture of buyers who are more decisive but no less picky. Location tops every other consideration. With 58% treating it as their least negotiable requirement and 40% weighting decisions around family proximity, London’s tightly defined micro-markets, specific streets, school catchments, transport links, remain fiercely competitive.
That specificity is precisely why supply feels so constrained. It is not that London lacks homes overall; it is that London lacks the right homes in the right streets, finished to a turnkey standard. Three barriers stood out in the survey:
- Domestic political change, 31% cited this as a reason for caution
- Insufficient stock, 17% said a lack of suitable homes is holding them back
- Potential tax changes, 15% flagged this as a concern
Second-home buyers and those shopping above £2 million remain notably cautious, while needs-based movers, families relocating for schools, jobs, or space, are the ones driving the current surge in activity.
The Knock-On Effect: More Extensions, More Party Wall Notices
Here is the practical consequence for London homeowners this autumn. When 17% of would-be movers cannot find suitable stock, a meaningful share of them do not simply wait, they improve. Loft conversions, basement digs, rear extensions, and side-return builds become the alternative to moving, especially for families who need more space but cannot find it on the open market at the right price or in the right postcode.
This shift matters enormously for London’s terraced and semi-detached housing stock, where nearly every significant extension project touches a shared wall, boundary line, or a neighbour’s foundations. That is where the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 comes in, and it is not optional.
When the Party Wall Act 1996 Applies
The Act applies in three main situations, and London’s dense terraced streets mean most extension projects hit at least one of them:
- Work directly to an existing party wall, cutting into it, inserting damp proofing, raising its height, or underpinning it.
- Building a new wall at the boundary line, even a garden wall or the flank wall of a new extension.
- Excavating near a neighbour’s structure, digging foundations within 3 metres of a neighbour’s building if the new work goes deeper than their existing foundations, or within 6 metres if it cuts a line drawn at 45 degrees from the underside of their foundations.
Basement projects, increasingly common as Londoners try to add space without extending their footprint, almost always fall into that third category.
Notice Periods Homeowners Must Respect
The Act sets clear minimum notice periods:
- Section 1 (line of junction notices), one month’s notice before building a new wall on or near the boundary.
- Section 6 (excavation notices), one month’s notice for digging foundations within the 3-metre or 6-metre zones described above.
- Section 2 (party structure notices), two months’ notice before carrying out work directly to a shared party wall.
Serving notice properly starts the clock. Neighbours have 14 days to respond, and if they do not consent, a party wall surveyor becomes essential.
The Role of the Party Wall Surveyor and the Award
Once a neighbour dissents, or simply does not reply, the dispute resolution machinery in the Act kicks in. Either one agreed surveyor acts for both parties, or each owner appoints their own surveyor, who then work together to produce a party wall award.
The award is a formal legal document covering:
- What work is allowed and how it must be carried out
- Working hours and access arrangements
- A schedule of condition for the neighbouring property
- Who pays the surveyor’s fees (usually the building owner)
A properly drafted award protects both the person building and the neighbour, reducing the risk of costly disputes over cracks, subsidence claims, or access disagreements later.
What This Means for London Buyers and Sellers in 2026
Anyone buying into the current wave of confidence identified by the London movers 2026 Savills survey should treat party wall paperwork as a standard due diligence item, not an afterthought. If a London property has an obvious rear or loft extension, ask two questions before exchanging contracts:
- Was a party wall award obtained for the work?
- Was a schedule of condition recorded on neighbouring properties before construction began?
Missing documentation does not necessarily mean the work is unsafe, but it does raise the risk of unresolved disputes surfacing after completion, disputes that become the new owner’s problem, not the seller’s.
Sellers, meanwhile, should keep award paperwork on file. Solicitors and buyers increasingly ask for it during conveyancing, and gaps can slow down a sale in a market where, per the survey, quality stock is already moving fast and buyers expect a smooth, turnkey transaction.
Conclusion
The London movers 2026 Savills survey confirms what agents across the capital have sensed all year: confidence is back, and London is leading the national rebound in moving intentions. But confidence without stock creates its own pressure valve. With only 17% citing shortage as a barrier yet demand concentrated on specific, non-negotiable locations, a wave of Londoners will choose to extend rather than relocate this autumn.
That means more Section 1, Section 2, and Section 6 notices landing on doormats across the city in the coming months. Homeowners planning works should serve notice early, respect the one- and two-month periods built into the Act, and engage a qualified party wall surveyor the moment a neighbour raises an objection. Buyers should make party wall awards a standard checklist item before exchange. Getting this right protects timelines, budgets, and neighbourly relationships, exactly the things a heated, stock-starved market has no patience to fix later. Party Wall Surveyor London can serve notices, act as agreed surveyor and prepare awards and schedules of condition across Greater London.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Party Wall Act apply to every extension in London? Not every extension, but most that touch a shared wall, sit on the boundary, or involve excavation within 3 or 6 metres of a neighbour’s foundations will trigger the Act.
How much notice must be given before starting party wall work? One month for Section 1 line-of-junction and Section 6 excavation notices; two months for Section 2 party structure notices.
What happens if a neighbour does not respond to a party wall notice? No response within 14 days is treated as a dissent, which means a surveyor (or surveyors) must be appointed to produce a party wall award.
Who pays for the party wall surveyor? Typically the building owner carrying out the work covers reasonable surveyor fees, including the adjoining owner’s surveyor if one is appointed.
Should buyers check for a party wall award before purchasing a London home? Yes. If a property shows signs of a loft conversion, extension, or basement dig, buyers should confirm an award and schedule of condition exist before exchange.
Why are more Londoners extending instead of moving in 2026? The Savills survey shows strong moving intentions but limited suitable stock in preferred locations, pushing many households toward extending their current home instead.