Taylor Wimpey trims guidance in tough market

Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey has reduced its forecast for home completions this year as it continues to come under pressure from “challenging” conditions in the UK housing market.

The firm says completions, including through joint ventures, fell to 4986 for the first half of 2026, compared with 5264 over the same period a year earlier.

The drop follows a reduced sales rate since the start of the year.

Taylor Wimpey said it expects to deliver between 10,600 and 10,800 completions in the UK this year, excluding joint ventures.

It said this would be in the “lower half” of its previous forecast range provided in March.

The group also told investors it expects market conditions to “remain challenging” for the year, amid pressure from the combination of weaker underlying pricing and an increase in build costs of between three per cent and four per cent.

It said: “We continue to support the Government’s housing ambition.

“However, without targeted demand support and viability measures to unlock delivery, weaker demand, rising costs and limited affordable housing funding risks reducing sector output and UK economic growth.”

Taylor Wimpey said total revenues were nonetheless up 1.7 per cent to £1.68 billion for the half-year, following a 6.7 per cent increase in average selling price on completions.

The company also swung back to a pre-tax profit of £116.8 million.

Elsewhere in the sector, online property portal firm Rightmove delivered stronger sales, despite flagging headwinds in the new homes market.

It revealed growth in the new homes market was “subdued”, with a six per cent reduction in new build developments compared with a year ago, despite a Government push for new housing.

Revenues increased by seven per cent to £225.8 million for the past six months, while operating profits were also up two per cent.

Johan Svanstrom, chief executive, said: “Despite the current volume headwinds in new homes, our continued momentum gives me confidence in 2026 and beyond.”

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