Greater London continues to dominate the housing market in terms of annual price change - London is the only region in England & Wales recording an above average price increase, with the other nine regions all falling below the 2.3% average rate. This month the North has pushed the South East into second place in terms of annual growth, assisted by price increases of detached and terraced properties in both Darlington and Middlesborough, up on average by 8% and 7% respectively. The North is also the only region this month to show an increase in the rate of annual price change, when compared to last month, with the remaining nine regions all
experiencing a reduction or no change in the rate of house price inflation.
Although in England & Wales as a whole the average rise in prices over the year has been 2.3%, we find far more significant changes in price at the county and unitary authority level, ranging from +10.8% in Bath & NE Somerset to -6.1% in Torfaen. 54 of the 108 authorities in England & Wales showed August price falls, compared with only 45 in July, so a decline in house prices is being experienced across half of the country.
There are two county and unitary authority areas this month that are witnessing peak average house prices, namely Hertfordshire and Reading, with both areas seeing large increases in the average price of detached properties.
David Newnes, Director of LSL Property Services plc, comments:
“A combination of dipping house prices and falling sales numbers point to a slowing market in September as a lethargic mortgage market and the knock-on impact of reduced buyer activity in August took its toll during the month. House prices are still in positive territory this year, and have increased on an annual basis for six consecutive months due to a shortage of properties on the market alongside the ongoing appetite from cash buyers and those with substantial equity. However, the rate of increase is slowing.
“It’s clear that the September housing market was still feeling the effects of the distraction of the Olympics in August, with lower activity and reduced competition in the previous month feeding through into a lower number of sales in September. In fact, transactions fell by 24%, compared to a typical seasonal monthly fall of 9%. While we have already started to see buyer activity rebound, the short-term factors hampering September’s performance shouldn’t mask the wider problems the national housing market faces. The lack of lending, especially to first-timer buyers, is choking off first time buyer sales outside of prime London, while uncertainty over job prospects in many parts of the country is still affecting sentiment of many prospective buyers.
“Much hangs on an improvement in the mortgage market. We’ve yet to see enough time elapse to feel a substantial impact from the Funding For Lending scheme in sales prices and numbers, or a boost to activity at the bottom end of the property market. However, lenders are confident that it will lead to increased funding for home buyers, and expect credit availability to increase significantly in the final quarter of the year, according to the Bank of England’s latest Credit Conditions Survey. If this is the case and the cheaper finance reaches those waiting to purchase their first home, it could provide a welcome new impetus for transactional activity, and a new source of optimism for would-be buyers.”
