Christie & Co publishes Care Market Review 2026

Christie Group plc (CTG.L) reports that its specialist agency and advisory business, Christie & Co, has released its Care Market Review 2026, which draws on its own consultancy data on transactional and valuation activity and insights from operators across England, Scotland and Wales, on the key trends shaping the sector.

The report highlights impressive appetite for the sector, which recorded more than £12 billion in transactions in 2025, marking a record year for the market. It also acknowledges that overseas capital also continues to play an important role, notably from the US, which accounted for more than two-thirds of foreign investment into the sector over the last five years.

The review - which explores areas including investment activity, funding, land and development, and local authority fee rates - outlines that activity remains robust across all asset types, with elderly care businesses continuing to attract significant interest from operators, institutional investors, and international REITs. More than half (52%) of operators surveyed as part of the review said they were looking to acquire another care home in the next year, reflecting improving trading conditions and sustained demand within the market.

Analysis of the deals brokered by Christie & Co in the first half of 2026 further demonstrates the strength of buyer demand across the market, with more than five offers received per instruction on average. Deals have also achieved an average of 97% of the asking price in the first half of 2026, slightly ahead of 2025 levels (95%), and the report points to further improvement here in light of continued demand.

Small and medium-sized operators (those with between 3 and 19 homes) were the most active buyer group, accounting for 38% of completed transactions by Christie & Co in the first half of the year, using a combination of cash resources, REIT, and senior debt funding. Another notable trend the report reveals is the rise in first-time buyers, many of whom have significant sector experience and are now taking the next step into ownership.

Christie & Co's specialist Care team is widely recognised as the UK's leading advisers to the sector, regularly advising on over 60% of the individually transacted care homes each year. With the largest and most experienced specialist care team in the UK, its national network of brokers, valuers and consultants have over 550 years of collective experience. Christie Finance, Christie Insurance and Pinders offer complementary services, and Christie & Co also provide brokerage and advisory expertise to European clients from teams in France and Germany.

https://www.christie.com/sectors/care/market-review/

Dan Prickett, Chief Executive of Christie Group plc, comments: "Our latest Care Market Report highlights the strength of the sector and continued buyer demand. Christie & Co averaged more than five offers per instruction in the first half, while more than half of operators surveyed are looking to acquire over the next 12 months. This confidence creates continued opportunities for Christie & Co, Christie Finance, Christie Insurance and Pinders to support clients across the sector."