The State of the Market: What the January 2026 Voice of the Agent Data Really Tells Us

What’s actually happening in the property market — and how do agents really feel about 2026? In this episode of The Voice of the Agent, Toby Martin and Simon Leadbetter unpack the January 2026 Voice of the Agent report, focusing on residential sales and lettings, and cutting through the noise to reveal what the data really says. They explore agent confidence, transaction levels, fees, competition, and growth expectations — and why the market feels cautious on the surface, yet quietly optimistic underneath. You’ll hear why many agents grew in 2025 despite negative headlines, what the data reveals about house prices and rental values in 2026, and where the biggest opportunities (and risks) lie for agency owners right now. The conversation also digs into the structural realities of estate agency: 🏠 Why sales-only businesses remain exposed 🔁 Why lettings still underpin long-term business value 💰 How fees really work across price brackets ⚔️ Just how competitive most local markets actually are 📈 And why finding new vendors and landlords remains the industry’s biggest challenge This episode is less about predictions, and more about perspective. If you want to understand where you sit relative to your peers, and how to use insight rather than instinct to guide decisions in 2026, this one’s essential listening. 📊 The full report is available free on the Unchained website 📩 Subscribe to the newsletter to receive future reports early