UK house price inflation cooling.

Average house prices increased by just 0.1% from the previous month to £271,000, the slowest growth since March, when prices fell by 0.4%, according to the Office for National Statistics. House price inflation measured on an annual basis cooled to 10.4% from a seven-year high of 12.1% in September.

London and the south east house prices have seen the biggest gains for the year to October, elsewhere in the UK the ONS state that prices grew by 6.7% on average, these gains may be good for some but for the likes of young people and families trying to get on the property ladder it only makes it tougher, trying to obtain a mortgage for most houses across the UK with the stricter rules brought in by the Bank of England has become a nightmare for many,  finding themselves stuck in the rent trap, with little hope of saving for a deposit.

The government announced on monday a scheme for first time buyers under the age of 40, under the Starter Home programme 100,000 properties will be offered at a discount of at least 20%, this will go some way to help, but still makes buying a home out of reach for those who unable to connect with the starter home scheme. Some relief came from the Autumn statement by way of stamp duty reduction on properties, the Chancellor stated that 98% of homebuyers would benefit from the cut in tax.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders said on tuesday it expected mortgage lending to increase in 2015 and 2016 but at a slower pace than this year, positive prospects for economic growth, job creation and real wage growth, coupled with low interest rates, should underpin the housing market.

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Homebuyers face longer buying timelines

The latest research from Lyons Bowe suggests the homebuying process could become even slower in 2026: as the number of conveyancers operating across the UK is thought to have fallen by almost -13% while transaction volumes rise, placing further pressure on completion timelines. Lyons Bowe has analysed data on the number of active conveyancers in…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 1/4/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Winning the AI Era: A Playbook for UK Estate Agencies The AI-Driven Rewiring of UK Estate Agency Thought Leadership by Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR Real estate has historically been conservative, fragmented, and inefficient. A surge of startups, is introducing automation, data-driven decision-making, and better customer experiences. This…
Read More
Breaking News

What renters and landlords need to know ahead of major rental law changes

With just one month to go until the first phase of the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force, the leading professional body, Propertymark, is urging renters and landlords across England to understand how the changes could affect them. From 1 May 2026, the legislation will introduce some of the biggest changes to the private rented…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Tackling Empty Properties

A UK Perspective on Best Practice and Recommendations for Reform Propertymark, the UK’s leading professional body for property agents, has today published a comprehensive new position paper highlighting the urgent need for coordinated, practical and properly resourced action to bring long-term empty properties back into use. With over 359,000 homes sitting empty for more than…
Read More
Breaking News

Pet-friendly rentals plunge 39%

New research from Inventory Base reveals that the number of pet-friendly rental homes in England has fallen by -39% since the start of 2026, as landlords appear to be reducing the number of homes openly marketed as allowing pets ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act taking effect from 1st May. The Renters’ Rights Act (RRA)…
Read More
Breaking News

Latest Nationwide house price data showing a 2.2% increase

Industry reaction to Nationwide house price data showing UK annual house price growth picked up to 2.2% in March, from 1.0% in February. Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, comments: “An uplift in house prices will be welcomed by the market and suggests that buyer demand remains resilient despite ongoing economic headwinds. Improved sentiment, coupled with…
Read More