Figures from Zoopla show that higher mortgage rates and two months of Middle East conflict are hitting some areas harder than others when it comes to sales. The average time to sell a home across the UK is one day longer than last year at 33 days, but homes in South East London are taking 34% longer to sell, with other Outer London areas impacted too.
The home selling site said this is due to these areas being popular with first-time buyers. London – and its surrounding areas – is the region that stands out as being most impacted by recent events, with the average home taking almost a week longer to sell (six days) in the capital as well as in more affordable commuter areas, according to Richard Donnell, Zoopla’s executive director.
He continued: “For sellers, the message is clear – well-priced homes are still finding buyers in the same time as last year across much of the country. For buyers, mortgage rates are drifting lower and there is greater choice of homes for sale. The best-value homes are moving quickly, particularly in Northern cities and Scotland, whereas the room for negotiation is greater across Southern regions.”
Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, said agents in London are “seeing hesitation creep in as affordability pressures bite”, particularly in first-time buyer hotspots.
He added: “On the ground, our agent members are reporting a market that’s holding together better than many expected, but with very different conditions depending on location and buyer type.
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“Well-priced homes are still moving quickly, but in first-time buyer hotspots, especially across Outer London, agents are seeing hesitation creep in as affordability pressures bite.
“What’s notable is the rebound in enquiries post-Easter, which suggests underlying demand hasn’t disappeared, it’s just more price-sensitive and cautious. For property professionals, this means sharper pricing strategies, clearer communication with sellers, and more support for buyers navigating higher upfront costs.
“This isn’t a stalled market, it’s a more selective one, and agents are working harder on behalf of buyers and sellers to keep transactions progressing.”
Regional disparity
Movers in the Harrow postal area face the longest sale time at 54 days – a 65% increase compared to just 33 days a year ago. South East London is up 34% to 43 days and East London is up 29% to 36 days, with Uxbridge and Bromley both seeing increases of around seven days. The same pattern extends into the wider commuter belt, with Dartford up 28% to 37 days, Peterborough up by a quarter (26%) to 48 days, and Slough up 18% to 46 days.
Meanwhile, Northern England and Scotland are seeing the fastest price growth and shortest sale times.
Jeremy Leaf, North London estate agent and a former Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) residential chair, said: “Housing market activity is proving more resilient than we dared hope as war in the Middle East continues for longer than originally anticipated.
“However, the amount of available property in our offices – particularly flats – is keeping prices under control and resulting in more protracted transactions as buyers flex their muscles.
“Worries about the direction of travel for interest rates and the cost of living means more price-sensitive purchasers are taking their time before submitting offers in expectation the aftereffects will linger for considerably longer even if hostilities end soon.”
The North East is the strongest performing region in Great Britain in terms of price, seeing a 3.2% increase year-on-year, followed by the North West at 3.1% and Scotland at 2.6%, while Northern Ireland continues to lead the UK at 6.7%. Within these regions, cities like Liverpool are seeing some of the strongest price growth in the country (4.5%), followed by Manchester and Newcastle, which have both seen increases of 3% year-on-year.
However, the South tells the opposite story. London and the South East are both seeing prices fall marginally at minus 0.2%, with the South West barely in positive territory at 0.1%. Within these regions, cities including Bournemouth at minus 1.7%, Cambridge at minus 0.9% and Brighton at minus 1.1% are among the weakest performing markets.
Sales agreed down
The report found that sales agreed are just 3% down on last year and that enquiries rebounded after the Easter break. Donnell said those looking to move had been encouraged by a ceasefire and mortgage rates starting to drift lower.
The figures follow a recent report from the Open Property Data Association (OPDA) that found that house sales and completions are taking longer than buyers expect.
