Housebuilder sales remain steady in year so far as it closely monitors Iran situation
Taylor Wimpey has warned of higher cost inflation this year due to rising energy costs.
The housebuilder, in an unaudited trading update today, said cost pressures are already starting to be seen through its supply chain.
It said: “As a result of rising energy costs, build cost inflation is now expected to be low to mid single digit for 2026, with cost pressure and surcharges starting to come through from our supply chain.
“We continue to be highly focused on the operational levers under our control, including driving sales performance, tightly controlling land and WIP spend and mitigating cost where possible.”
The statement comes after the global price of oil rose in recent weeks following the US-Iran war which began on 28 February. The conflict has led to a key shipping route through the Strait of Homuz being disrupted.
The £3.4bn-turnover housebuilder however reported steady sales in 2026 to date. Its net private sales rate for the year to 26 April 2026 was 0.74 per outlet per week, compared to 0.77 the previous year. Its order book value is slightly lower at £2.2bn compared to £2.3bn a year ago, representing 7,689 homes compared to 8.153.
It said that has experienced some “underlying pricing pressure” recently. It said: “Overall pricing in the order book is c.1% lower year on year, with prices most impacted where affordability is more stretched in the South of England, and where we have made proactive choices to recycle capital as we phase out of our Greater London apartment schemes.”
The firm has acquired around 1,000 plots in the year, down from 1,700 the previous year which it said was due to it taking a “highly selective” approach to landbuying. Its “high quality short term landbank” stood at around 76,000 plots at the end of March, down from 78,000 year-on-year.
Taylor Wimpey is the eighth biggest company in Building’s Top 150 Contractors and Housebuilders list, which ranks firms by turnover.
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