House price growth weakest since 2013

February 14, 2019

2018 saw the slowest UK annual growth in house prices since 2013. While annual growth in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all strengthened in 2018 compared to 2017, England experienced a slowdown.

Annual house price growth (%), Countries of the UK, 2013 to 2018

United Kingdom

England

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland
2013

2.6

2.9

0.4

0.4

-2.8
2014

8.0

8.3

4.7

5.0

7.7
2015

6.0

6.8

4.0

2.8

7.3
2016

7.0

7.7

1.4

4.2

6.5
2017

4.5

4.8

2.9

4.3

3.8
2018

3.3

3.0

4.6

4.8

4.6

 

The North and the Midlands experienced a slight slowdown between 2017 and 2018, but this weakening growth was more evident in the South and East of England with house prices in London falling over the year in 2018.

Figure 1: Annual house price growth (%), by English region, 2017 and 2018

A similar picture is observed when looking at the local authority level. Strong annual growth in the Forest of Dean, Newport and Torfaen are likely linked to the abolition of the Severn Bridge tolls making it more affordable for those who work in Bristol to live on the opposite side of the River Severn. In Scotland, strong growth in West Dunbartonshire may be due to the areas direct trains to both Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Top 5 UK Local Authorities, by annual growth in 2018

Area Name

Average Price (£)

Annual growth (%)
Forest of Dean

235,833

11.0
Newport

175,447

10.5
Na h-Eileanan Siar

107,787

9.5
Torfaen

141,055

9.4
West Dunbartonshire

106,795

9.4

 

London boroughs dominate the areas where prices have fallen over the year. The Bank of England November inflation report highlights that the slowdown in the London market since mid-2016 is probably due to the area being disproportionately affected by regulatory and tax changes, and also by lower net migration from the EU.

Bottom 5 UK Local Authorities, by annual growth in 2018

Area Name Average Price (£) Annual growth (%)
City of London

787,027

-7.1
Hammersmith and Fulham

728,072

-3.8
City of Aberdeen

159,243

-3.5
Wandsworth

597,641

-3.3
Tower Hamlets

445,004

-3.1

Note: The figures in this article are annual estimate and will therefore show different annual growth rates and average prices to our monthly statistics.

HM Land Registery

News stories direct from HM Land Registry.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Why first-time buyers should start the financial conversation early

Award-winning mortgage adviser, Alexander Hall, is encouraging the nation’s first-time buyers to open up about their finances this Talk Money Week, offering expert guidance on how to make these conversations more natural, productive, and stress-free. What is Talk Money Week? Talk Money Week is a national initiative created by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS)…
Read More →
Breaking News

Bonfire Night could cause £1,500 in property damages

New research from Adiuvo, the UK’s leading provider of 24/7 property management support, warns that Bonfire Night could cost renters an average of £1,475 in property damage if proper care is not taken, but that with a few simple safety checks in place, the much-loved evening of celebration and community can go off without a…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Buying a Home? What you need to know about asbestos

Asbestos is a well-known issue in UK housing – but while it’s rightly treated with caution, it doesn’t need to cause alarm. With the right advice and professional guidance, it’s a manageable problem that shouldn’t stand in the way of purchasing a dream home. Used widely in construction until 1999, asbestos is often found in…
Read More →
Breaking News

Hodge Bank introduces 80% LTV on Interest Only Mortgages, helping borrowers maximise their affordability

Specialist lender Hodge has today announced it will accept 80% Loan to Value (LTV) on Interest Only Mortgages to help borrowers expand their affordability. The criteria enhancement is the latest in a raft of changes introduced by the lender in a bid to make its underwriting as flexible as possible. This change applies to Hodge’s…
Read More →
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 4/11/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Fine & Country network prepare for success in 2026 Premium estate agency Fine & Country is delighted to announce the return of its Regional Meetings this November, bringing together business owners, key decision-makers, and leading agents from across the network. These highly anticipated events…
Read More →
Breaking News

The end of the ‘Forever Home’? 63 per cent of young homeowners prioritise flexibility and renovation potential over permanence

63 per cent of younger homeowners (18-34 year olds) find the ‘forever home’ concept less important than older generations Nearly half (45 per cent) of the same group of homeowners expect to move home within the next five years, embracing a flexible ‘Right Now Home’ model 23 per cent of 18-34 year olds view their…
Read More →