The UK housing market is experiencing a notable slowdown, with a significant proportion of properties listed for sale since January still awaiting a buyer. New data from Zoopla's latest House Price Index reveals that three in five homes have not yet sold, as higher mortgage rates and ongoing political uncertainty continue to dampen buyer confidence across the country. This has led many prospective purchasers to delay their moving plans until market conditions become clearer.
The impact of this shift is evident in recent sales figures. Over the past four weeks, sales agreed are down by 7% compared to the same period last year, while overall buyer demand has fallen by 15%. Zoopla attributes a large part of this decline to the rise in mortgage rates, which reached around 5% in April, significantly affecting affordability for many. Nationally, the average monthly mortgage payment has increased by approximately £125. However, this impact is not uniform across the UK; a typical first-time buyer in London faces an increase of £232 per month, whereas in the North East, the rise is a more modest £66.
Regional variations in the slowdown are pronounced. Wales has seen the steepest decline in agreed sales, down 12% year-on-year, followed by the East Midlands (11%), the East of England (10%), and the South West (10%). London has also recorded a 9% fall in agreed sales, while the West Midlands has experienced the most significant drop in buyer demand, down 30% compared to last year. This highlights a divergence in market performance, with some areas feeling the pinch more acutely than others.
Flats continue to be the weakest segment of the market, with more than two-thirds of one and two-bedroom apartments listed this year remaining unsold. Zoopla suggests that higher borrowing costs and stamp duty have disproportionately affected first-time buyers, particularly in London, where the overall cost of purchasing property is considerably higher than in many northern regions. This challenging environment means sellers need to be increasingly realistic about asking prices to attract offers.
The softer market conditions are also translating into slower house price growth. Annual UK house price growth has decelerated to 1.4%. The strongest performances are observed in the North East and North West, where prices have risen by 3.5%, and in Scotland, with a 3% increase. In stark contrast, London has recorded its ninth consecutive month of annual price falls, registering a -0.2% decline, while prices in the South East are down by 0.3%. Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, noted that while higher mortgage rates have hit sales, the situation is less severe than following the 2022 mini-budget, with rates now starting to fall. He emphasised that it is currently a buyer's market across much of the South, but motivated sellers in northern England and Scotland are still finding buyers at a pace similar to last year, underscoring the varied speeds of the housing market.
Donnell advised sellers to focus on realistic pricing, stating that correctly priced homes are selling, while overpriced properties are not. For buyers, he highlighted that falling rates, increased choice, and motivated sellers willing to negotiate mean conditions are more favourable now than they were three months ago for those ready to move.