UK house prices rise in October, ending run of six consecutive monthly falls
- Average house prices rose by +1.1% in October, compared to a fall of -0.3% in September
- Property prices dropped by -3.2% on an annual basis (vs -4.5% last month)
- Typical UK home now costs £281,974, up around £3,000 on the previous month
- South East England continues to see largest annual decline in house prices
Kim Kinnaird, Director, Halifax Mortgages, said:
“UK house prices rose in October, up +1.1% on a monthly basis, breaking a run of six consecutive monthly falls. The average house price is now £281,974 – an increase of almost £3,000 compared to the previous month. On an annual basis, prices are down -3.2%, though the decline was at a slower pace than we saw in September (-4.5%).
“Prospective sellers appear to be taking a cautious attitude, leading to a low supply of homes for sale. This is likely to have strengthened prices in the short-term, rather than prices being driven by buyer demand, which remains weak overall. While many people will have seen their income grow through wage rises, higher interest rates and wider affordability pressures continue to be challenges for buyers.
“Across the medium-term, with financial markets not anticipating a decline in the Bank of England’s Base Rate soon, we expect house prices to fall further overall – with a return to growth from 2025.
“The current picture should continue to be seen in the context of the longer-term house price trend as, on average, prices remain around £40,000 above pre-pandemic levels.”
Read the full report for more insights on the current state of the UK housing market: Halifax Price Index October 2023
