New figures highlight strong gains in the north and further pressure on southern markets
Around half of Britain’s housing stock rose in value last year, though Zoopla’s latest analysis shows a marked split between northern markets and much of southern England.
Property listing platform Zoopla estimates that 15.2 million of the UK’s 30 million homes saw values increase by at least 1% in 2025, broadly unchanged from 2024. Among those properties, the average gain was £9,900, with about 3.1 million homeowners seeing rises of £20,000 or more.
At the other end of the spectrum, 9.1 million homes are thought to have lost at least 1% of their value over the year, with an average reduction of £10,800. A further 5.6 million homes were effectively flat, with values moving by less than 1% either way.
North and devolved nations lead price growth
The figures point to a clear regional pattern. More than 70% of homeowners in northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are reported to have seen their properties increase in value.
Northern Ireland’s recent price surge stands out, with 94% of homes recording higher values in 2025 and average gains of £14,200. In Scotland, 73% of homes increased in value, by an average of £10,400. In the North West, 72% of homes – around 2.45 million properties – posted gains, averaging £9,700.
The North West and Scotland account for all of the ten local authorities with the highest share of homes rising in value. Renfrewshire tops the list, with 95% of homes increasing in price. Glasgow (90%) and Chorley in the North West (88%) complete the top three. East Renfrewshire recorded the largest average uplift within the top 10, at £17,900.
Across the North East and Wales, more than 60% of homeowners also saw values rise. Local hotspots include Northumberland, where 78% of homes increased in value, and Wrexham, where 79% recorded gains.
Not all areas outside the South performed strongly, however. Aberdeen City was the weakest local authority market beyond southern England, with 67% of homes falling in value in 2025, in line with longer-running softness in the local market linked to low investment in oil and gas. Lancaster saw the highest share of price falls in the North West (40% of homes), while in Wales, 46% of homes in Ceredigion are reported to have declined in value.
Southern England sees more price falls
Zoopla’s data underlines the north-south divide in homeowner outcomes. Six in 10 homes that lost value in 2025 were in southern England, a trend the company links to affordability pressures from higher prices and a greater supply of homes for sale, giving buyers more choice.
Only 35% of homes in southern England – about 4.6 million properties – posted value gains of more than 1%. By contrast, 5.6 million homes in the region are estimated to have fallen in value over the year.
There were some pockets of resilience. In Castle Point in Essex, around two-thirds of homes, or about 20,800 properties, recorded gains. Waltham Forest led London, with 59% of homes rising in value and an average increase of £26,600. London as a whole was among the regions with the lowest share of homes seeing gains, but those that did increase recorded the highest average uplift in the UK, at £17,400.
Gloucester was another stronger-performing area in the South West, with 62% of homes increasing in value. Even so, the South West also contained some of the sharpest localised declines. In Torbay, 79% of homes are reported to have fallen in value, the highest proportion of any local authority.
In the South East, 78% of homes in Hastings saw price falls last year, while Torridge in the South West recorded declines for 77% of homes. In London’s Kensington and Chelsea, seven in ten homes are estimated to have lost value in 2025.
Flats and £1 million-plus stock under more pressure
Performance also varied by property type and price bracket. Terraced and semi-detached houses proved the most resilient, with more than half (56%) of such homes increasing in value in 2025. Flats were more exposed to declines, with 50% registering price falls of 1% or more.
“Millions of homeowners regularly track the value of their home and keep tabs on what’s happening in their local market,” said Richard Donnell (pictured right), executive director at Zoopla. “What a home is worth and understanding the level of demand in the local area at different pricing levels are essential pieces of information for homeowners planning their next home move.
“Our analysis shows how varied changes in home values are across the country and within local areas. The general trend is that most home values continue to increase steadily upwards, especially away from southern England.
“However, many homes are registering broadly static or lower values as the market continues to adjust to higher mortgage rates and more homes for sale which is boosting choice for buyers. This is particularly prevalent in southern England.”
For Donnell, the choppier and complex market conditions in the South makes it critical for sellers to be realistic on pricing in 2026. “Understanding the value of your home and speaking to local agents is an essential step before making an offer to buy a new home,” he said.
“Over 5 million home owners are signed up to track their home’s value on Zoopla including data and insights to help them plan their next move. Getting the right price that generates interest alongside a strong marketing strategy is essential for those looking to make a move in 2026.”
Want to be regularly updated with mortgage news and features? Get exclusive interviews, breaking news, and industry events in your inbox – subscribe to our FREE daily newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn.
