Britain’s Hottest Housing Markets - where the trend is bucked…

Over 70 locations in Britain have seen average house prices rise over the last year, bucking the national trend.

An analysis of the Halifax’s house price index assessed typical property prices in 300-plus local authority areas in the three months up to September, and revealed their variation over the same period of 2022. 

Despite an all-Britain average price fall of 3.9 per cent over the year, some locations saw rises - even double digit ones.

Top is Powys in Wales with average annual house price growth of 17.4 per cent; East Lindsey on the east coast of Lincolnshire has seen a 13.3 per cent hike; and Moray in Scotland enjoyed 10.7 per cent growth.

“There are multiple factors which can impact house prices in your local area, ranging from the mix of properties available and the extent of any new housing, to the quality of schools and abundance of job opportunities” says Kim Kinnaird, director of Halifax Mortgages. 

“What’s clear is that the UK housing market is not a single-entity that performs in a uniform way across the country, there are differences. While at a national level the current squeeze on mortgage affordability has seen property prices fall over the last year, in many regions there remain pockets of house price growth. While a limited supply of properties for sale could be a factor, this also suggests in some areas, local market activity – and demand among buyers – remains strong.

“Many of the places highlighted in our research also benefit from more remote or rural surroundings and incorporate areas of outstanding natural beauty. These are traits which continue to be desirable for prospective homeowners, bucking the trend of the wider performance of the housing market.”