House prices are down, but they are really up – July 2020

UK property Prices July 2020

The negative stats were from April through June 2020, with these figures released by the mortgage provider Halifax. Looking at the wider picture and at the yearly figure so far then we have prices rising across Wales and within all regions of England.

When we consider the global crisis that was recently experienced that included a world’s first ever lock-down with people not able to work and the necessary intervention from the government having to support people’s income, then a tiny 0.9% drop, when even the estate agency world was firmly paused, then surely it proves how solid the UK property market really is (only Scotland showed negative years growth figures).

Demand on UK property is still very high and immigration in to the UK is also busy, with the difficulties currently in finding land with permission to build and targets not being met for new house building then for sure there will not be too much of a drop in valuations in the next few months.

the EY Item Club is forecasting a 3 per cent drop over the next few months, before stability resumes at the turn of the year.House prices forecast to fallThis is Money

Many will say, and I agree, that the full effect of Covid-19 is yet to be seen in regards to financial position of government and in turn consumers, but possibly spending in the UK itself will increase especially due to people fearful of travelling such as for holidays, spending happen at home rather than abroad. The will also be no need to pay out to the EU soon substantial daily fees and the chance for big dealings via international trade deals (free trade deals) with countries such as the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

A trade deal between the US and UK will jump start growth…The Daily Telegraph – June 2020

Estate Agencies have mostly reported positive activity following the lock down and the pausing of the UK property market. Speaking with varied agents I know, around the country (England) there seemed to be positive sales / enquiry figures with a slightly slower activity report from within areas of London.

So ahead of us we are still very much in the unknown regarding Covid-19 and it’s overall effect, Maybe it is now all done and dusted and it’s effect will slowly disappear allowing us to get back to normality though of course there are reports that it may re-appear and via a much stronger strain, this of course would be highly damaging to the economy and in turn property prices and sales activity.

One thing is for sure though is that property prices usually remain robust and in all cases they rebound. There maybe a potential doomy and gloomy road ahead, and especially if you read any of the typical politically motivated press, though even a small decline in prices will lead to an increased activity in the market and demand will once again go up!

 

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

The Compliance Curve: Meeting Landlord Safety Standards Through Smart Heating Upgrades

In today’s rental market, compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes — it’s about protecting investments, safeguarding tenants, and staying ahead of fast-evolving regulations. For landlords across the UK, particularly those managing older housing stock, staying compliant has become a strategic exercise in property value preservation. Among the many areas demanding attention, heating systems stand out…
Read More
Breaking News

Government confirms ban on no fault evictions to begin in May

The Government has set out a timeline for implementing the Renters’ Rights Act. The first tranche of reforms, including a ban on no fault evictions will come into force from 1 May 2026. David Smith, property litigation partner at London law firm Spector Constant & Williams said: “This will put agents under an immense amount…
Read More
Breaking News

Landlords must ‘act quickly’ after Renters Rights Act launch date is announced

A leading estate and lettings agent says that landlords must “act quickly” after the Government announced that the controversial Renters Rights Act will be implemented from May 1st next year. The changes, which include the end of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, represent the biggest upheaval in the landlord and tenant sector in a generation. The…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Landlord EICRs Compliance in 2026: EICR Rules, Costs & Risks — Interview with Ethem from Efficient Home Energy

With thousands of landlords approaching their next round of electrical safety renewals, 2026 is shaping up to be a crucial year for safety compliance. In this exclusive interview, Ethem, an electrical safety expert from Efficient Home Energy, breaks down the risks, the regulations and the practical steps landlords and letting agents must take to stay compliant and protect…
Read More
Breaking News

Mortgage arrears and possessions Q3 2025

UK Finance today releases its latest mortgage arrears and possessions data for Q3 2025, while highlighting continuing lender support for any customers facing financial difficulty. Key Information  The number of homeowner mortgages in arrears fell by four per cent in Q3 2025 compared to the previous quarter. The number of buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages in arrears…
Read More
Love or Hate Rightmove
Breaking News

Glasgow agents coughing up the most commission to Rightmove

The latest research from The Property DriveBuy reveals that Britain’s estate agents are paying an average of 7.2% of their sales commission to Rightmove, with agents in Glasgow and Newcastle taking the biggest hit from the property portal market leader. The Property DriveBuy has compared the estimated average sales commission of an estate agent in Great…
Read More