Best chance of finding a buyer over past ten years across all areas of Great Britain

Love or Hate Rightmove
  • Nearly seven in ten homes (68%) across Great Britain have found a buyer in the current market, the highest percentage recorded over the past ten years
  • On average just over half (53%) of properties up for sale successfully found a buyer between 2012 and early 2020, highlighting the strength of the market over the past year
  • Scotland has the highest sales rate in Great Britain at 89%, while London saw the lowest with just under half (48%) of homes being sold
  • The top ten places where people were most likely to successfully sell their home are all in Scotland, with the top three being Falkirk (94%), East Dunbartonshire (94%) and South Lanarkshire (93%)
  • Outside of Scotland the top three are Sheffield (83%), Craven (81%) and Chorley (81%), while the areas with the lowest sales rate are Westminster (22%), Kensington & Chelsea (25%), and Camden (28%)

 

New data revealed today from the UK’s biggest property website Rightmove shows that the likelihood of sellers successfully securing a buyer in the current market is at its highest point at any time over the past ten years.

The analysis of over 13 million listings tracked the journey of a property going up for sale to being marked sold subject to contract. Sales that fell through and went on to secure a buyer again were only counted once.

Across Great Britain, 68% of homes successfully found a buyer between June 2020 and June 2021, a jump from 41% in 2012, and the highest percentage in any year over the past ten years.

Looking between 2012 and early 2020, 53% of homes found a buyer on average, with the other 47% either being withdrawn from sale or staying on the market.

Scotland leads the way with 89% of homes successfully finding a buyer, compared to 48% in London. The next best performing area is Yorkshire & the Humber, with nearly eight in every ten homes, 77%, selling.

Areas at the top of the list are all in Scotland, with 94% of homes in Falkirk & East Dunbartonshire finding a buyer, while the bottom end includes high-end markets of London such as Westminster (22%), Kensington & Chelsea (25%), and Camden (28%).

 

Tim Bannister, Director of Property Data at property website Rightmove, says: “There’s been a much greater chance of a seller finding a buyer over the past year, which really highlights the sheer number of people who have been determined to move. While the long-term average shows that typically around half of properties sell, the increase in 2021 reflects the frenzied buyer activity we’ve seen in the current market, driven by multiple factors such as pent up demand and changing priorities. This efficiency in the market means agents are operating on limited stock, and they need more homes to satisfy all types of buyers. We’ve seen from previous research that Scotland often contains the most likely areas to find a buyer, and London the least, however the broader numbers are reflective of the trend we’ve been seeing all year, which is that buyers have widened their scope, and the popularity of every area in Great Britain is increasing.”

Rightmove

UK Property news updates shared directly from Rightmove PLC - the country's leading property portal.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Room rental waiting times revealed

Brighton to Birmingham: How Long Are You Waiting for a Room in Your City? New market analysis from COHO, the HMO management platform, reveals that shared living tenants are having to secure rooms months in advance, with as few as 11% of live listings being available for immediate occupancy in some cities. How long are…
Read More
LIVING BY THE SEASIDE 2022
Breaking News

Homebuyers struggle to beat heatwave

Homebuyers struggle to beat heatwave as air conditioned homes account for just 1.2% of all property listings As we continue to endure a scorcher of a summer, the latest research by leading London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has shown that homebuyers with hopes of purchasing an air conditioned property face a tough…
Read More
Crowded beaches - Clacton-on-Sea in Essex
Breaking News

Global prime market hotspots revealed, with Monaco, Geneva and Singapore topping the table

The latest research by Jefferies London has revealed that Monaco, Geneva and Singapore are currently the most active markets when it comes to super prime homeseller activity, whilst London sits seventh in the list of 17 global hotspots analysed by the firm. Jefferies London analysed current market listings across 17 global prime property hotspots, looking…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Landlord Safety Certificate Cost Breakdown for London Property Owners

London Safety Certificate is your trusted provider in London, offering fully accredited and dependable services to help landlords meet their legal obligations with confidence. As a landlord, you’re responsible for guaranteeing that your property meets UK legal safety standards, which means obtaining various safety certificates. The costs for these certificates can vary; for instance, a…
Read More
Breaking News

Nationwide House Price Index – Thoughts from the Industry

The latest Nationwide House Price Index for July 2025 shows that: House prices increased by 0.6% between June and July of this year. On an annual basis, the average house price increased by 2.4% up from a 2.1% annual rate of growth in June. As a result, the average UK house price now sits at…
Read More
Breaking News

Nationwide House Index – July 2025

Annual house price growth edges higher in July Annual rate of house price growth increased modestly in July to 2.4%, from 2.1% in June House prices were up 0.6% month on month UK house price to earnings ratio at lowest level in over a decade at c.5.75 Headlines Jul-25 Jun-25 Monthly Index* 540.5 537.4 Monthly…
Read More