The figures come as the latest UK House Price Index shows a mixed picture across the country. While average UK house prices increased by 2.7% in the year to May 2026, growth varied significantly between regions, with northern areas recording some of the strongest gains.
Northern Regions Record the Strongest Annual Price Growth
According to HM Land Registry, the average UK property was valued at £271,000 in May 2026 after prices rose by 0.3% compared with April. The North East recorded the highest annual growth in England, with prices increasing by 5.9% compared with May 2025, taking the average property value to £164,000.
The North West followed closely, with annual growth of 5.8% and an average property value of £220,000. It also recorded the largest monthly increase in England, with prices rising by 1.4% between April and May 2026.
Other regions also saw annual increases. Prices in Yorkshire and the Humber rose by 4.3%, while the East Midlands recorded growth of 3.2%. The South East and South West experienced smaller increases, at 1.2% and 1.7% respectively.
Property type also affected price movements. Across England, semi-detached homes increased in value by 4.1% over the year, compared with 3.2% for terraced properties and 2.5% for detached homes. Flats and maisonettes moved in the opposite direction, falling by 2.2%.
The data also showed differences between new and existing properties. According to HM Land Registry, new builds in England recorded an annual price increase of 4.8%, while existing resold properties recorded a decrease of 0.7% based on the available figures.
London Continues to Face Pressure Despite Wider Market Growth
London remained the weakest-performing English region in the latest figures. According to HM Land Registry, average property prices in the capital fell by 3.7% in the year to May 2026, leaving the average home value at £545,000.
The decline affected several property categories. Flats and maisonettes saw the largest annual fall in London, decreasing by 6.6% from the previous year. Detached properties also declined, with prices falling by 2.3%, while terraced homes decreased by 0.6%.
Buyer groups experienced similar pressure in the capital. The average price paid by first-time buyers fell by 3.7% compared with the previous year, while former owner occupiers saw prices decrease by 3.5%.
Across the wider UK market, transaction activity showed signs of movement. The UK Property Transactions Statistics estimated that 98,000 residential property transactions worth £40,000 or more took place in May 2026 on a seasonally adjusted basis, which was 16.6% higher than a year earlier.
The latest figures show a housing market moving at different speeds. Northern regions have recorded stronger annual increases, while London continues to experience falling prices. The data, based on completed transactions, reflects market conditions up to May 2026 and may change as further sales are recorded.
