UK house prices remained broadly stagnant in July, with prospective buyers facing pressure from higher mortgage rates and affordability concerns, lender Lloyds has reported. The average property price in July was £299,253, a slight decrease of £143 from June.
Annual price growth stands at 0.1%, marking the weakest rate since November 2023. Amanda Bryden, head of mortgages at Lloyds, noted that many potential buyers are struggling with affordability, partly due to recent events in the Middle East influencing mortgage rates.
The average rate for a two-year fixed residential mortgage was 5.63% on Friday, with five-year deals at 5.67%, according to Moneyfacts. Both rates were below 5% at the start of the year. Anthony Codling, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, described the market as being in "suspended animation," with prices neither falling sharply nor rising significantly.
Regionally, Northern Ireland was the strongest performer, with house prices growing 7.4% year-on-year to an average of £231,131. Scotland saw a 3.6% rise to £223,246, and Wales experienced 1.6% annual growth, reaching an average of £231,458.
In England, the North-East reported 2.8% annual growth, with prices averaging £182,488, while the North-West saw a 2.1% increase to £247,836. Conversely, the South-East experienced a 2% decline, with average prices at £381,146, and Greater London recorded a 1.3% fall to £533,930.