The UK's most affordable cities for single buyers revealed

Growing wages and easing mortgage rates are opening a narrow but important window for single homebuyers to get onto the property ladder, new Zoopla figures suggest – and brokers are likely to play a crucial role in helping them make the most of it.

While couples still account for the majority of first-time purchases and tend to target larger three‑bedroom homes, single buyers now make up around two-fifths of the first-time buyer market. Yet they typically face tougher affordability constraints, relying on a single income to satisfy lender stress tests and fund ongoing ownership costs.

Zoopla’s latest analysis looks specifically at one and two‑bedroom properties and compares average prices with typical earnings for single purchasers, to identify where solo buyers have the best chance of buying on their own.

Aberdeen leads the way on affordability

Across Britain’s nations and regions, Aberdeen emerges as the most affordable city for single purchasers. The typical price of a one or two‑bedroom first-time buyer home in the city is £114,700, set against an average single income of £33,100 – a price‑to‑income ratio of just 3.5.

Based on a 20% deposit, Zoopla estimates that this equates to a monthly mortgage payment in the region of £438, highlighting that there are still pockets of the UK where homeownership remains within reach for solo borrowers on a modest income.

At the other end of the UK, Swansea is the most affordable Welsh city for single buyers, with a typical one or two‑bedroom home priced at £149,000, around 4.5 times the average single-earner income of £32,800.

England’s most accessible cities for solo purchasers

In England, the data points to a clear north–south divide. Sunderland is now the most affordable English city for single buyers, with average prices for one and two‑bedroom homes standing at £106,700, or 3.7 times typical earnings of £28,600. Zoopla estimates monthly repayments of around £408 on a 20% deposit, representing just 17% of gross income.

Hull follows closely behind, with a typical price of £115,300 for a small home and average earnings of £27,900, giving a price‑to‑income ratio of 4.1. Liverpool is the most affordable city for solo purchasers in the North West, with a one or two‑bedroom property averaging £137,100 and a typical income of £31,600 – a ratio of 4.3.

Elsewhere in England, affordability is more stretched but still comparatively accessible in some regional centres:

• Stoke‑on‑Trent (West Midlands):
  Average house price £134,400, average income £29,700, price‑to‑income ratio 4.5

• Derby (East Midlands):
  Average house price £169,100, average income £31,200, ratio 5.4

• Peterborough (East of England):
  Average house price £183,200, average income £30,500, ratio 6.0

• Plymouth (South West):
  Average house price £184,000, average income £29,600, ratio 6.2

• Milton Keynes (South East):
  Average house price £230,400, average income £36,900, ratio 6.3

For brokers working with single applicants, these regional variations are becoming increasingly important when advising clients who are flexible on location, especially those willing to trade “postcode prestige” for affordability and long‑term value.

London: Havering stands out – but the capital remains tough

Unsurprisingly, London remains the most challenging market for solo buyers. Zoopla’s figures indicate that in every London borough, monthly mortgage payments for an average one or two‑bedroom property now exceed £1,000 for a typical single‑income purchaser.

Within the capital, Havering stands out as the most affordable option. A one or two‑bedroom property in the borough averages £305,200 – around 7.3 times a typical single income of £41,600. On Zoopla’s assumptions, that implies a monthly repayment of roughly £1,166, underscoring just how stretched affordability remains even in London’s “cheapest” borough for solo buyers.

Other parts of Greater London and the surrounding commuter belt show similar patterns: mortgage payments often consume a far higher share of income than in many northern and Scottish cities, limiting the pool of buyers who can realistically purchase alone without significant help from family or other sources.

Smaller homes, shifting strategies

Zoopla notes that one and two‑bedroom properties have generally seen slower price growth than larger, family‑sized homes in recent years. For single buyers, that has created a relative affordability sweet spot in smaller units – and brokers report changing buyer behaviour as a result.

Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: “Buying a home can feel out of reach for many singles who have to rely on just one income to cover mortgage and other costs of home ownership. Rising incomes and lower mortgage rates mean that owning a home by yourself is increasingly possible.

“For many that means buying a smaller-sized home where property prices have risen more slowly than for larger, family-sized homes in recent years. It’s important to do your research, digging into mortgage affordability and products aimed at singles while considering alternative locations and selecting the right area for you.”

Kesha Foss‑Smith, regional director at John D Wood & Co, said that single purchasers are adapting their strategies in response to these conditions.

“Single buyers are becoming far more strategic about where and what they buy,” she said. “Many are prioritising affordability over postcode prestige, and choosing areas that still offer good transport links, local amenities and long‑term value.

“The combination of stabilising house prices and improved mortgage rates has opened doors again, and we’re seeing renewed confidence in the market, particularly for one and two‑bed homes. With more choice coming on to the market and sellers being more open to negotiation, this is one of the more favourable windows we’ve seen for single buyers in recent years.”

What this means for intermediaries

For brokers and intermediaries, Zoopla’s findings underline several practical opportunities:

• Single buyers now account for a substantial minority of first‑time purchases, and often require more tailored advice on affordability, product choice and stress testing.

• Regional affordability differences – particularly between northern England, Scotland and the South – create scope for brokers to support clients who are willing to relocate, including via virtual advice models.

• Specialist products and lender criteria aimed at single incomes, such as higher‑LTV options or more flexible affordability assessments, can be crucial for this cohort.

With affordability pressures still acute in many parts of the country, particularly in London and the South East, brokers who understand where solo buyers have the best chance of success – and which products can support them – are well‑placed to help this growing segment of the market onto the ladder.