A new report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) says house prices face increased pressure across regions in April, with a widening divide between areas. The survey indicates that activity and market sentiment remain subdued, linked to ongoing uncertainty around the outlook for inflation and interest rates. RICS points to the lack of a clearer path for borrowing costs as a factor weighing on confidence among buyers and sellers, which in turn affects market turnover and pricing expectations.

While the report highlights regional differences, it also frames the overall environment as cautious, with affordability remaining a key concern. RICS suggests that unless there is clearer guidance on how inflation will evolve and what that means for borrowing costs, the housing market is likely to stay restrained in the near term. The available coverage from the outlets provided reflects the same core message: heightened price pressure in April and a muted outlook for activity and sentiment until financial conditions become more predictable.