Negative trend in prime central London according to RICS

RICS UK Residential Market Survey report – August 2017 released today headlines ‘Growth at the headline level, but regional house price picture remains mixed.’

Although the headline level shows a return to growth, sentiment is less positive in prime central London and to a lesser extent the wider South East, alongside the North and East Anglia.

In the August RICS survey, 6% more respondents reported prices rising rather than falling at the headline level, the latest figures point to solid price growth in many parts, including Northern Ireland, the North West, Scotland, and the South West.

Negative trend in prime central London in particular  with 56% more respondents seeing a fall in prices, posting the weakest result since 2008.

Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist said: “The latest results continue to suggest that the greatest pressure on both prices and activity continues to be felt in prime central London market. Although there are some signs that the wider South East is also losing some momentum, anecdotal evidence suggests the impact is very location specific. Meanwhile the numbers for most other parts of the country point to a rather more resilient marketplace.

“It is interesting that over the medium term, the conclusion of the latest survey is that rental growth is likely to outpace increases in house prices. Although the Build to Rent offer is now stepping up a gear, there clearly is some doubt as to whether it can do so at a fast-enough pace to address the shortfall which may result from the more hostile environment for Buy-to-Let investors.”

Read the RICS UK Residential Market Survey report – August 2017 in full click here.

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

Fewer than 3% of London rental homes available

The latest research from Benham and Reeves has found that fewer than 3% of London’s private rental homes are currently available to tenants, highlighting the severe lack of supply across the capital at a time when further legislative changes could place additional strain on supply within the sector. Benham and Reeves analysed current rental market…
Read More
Adding second coat of varnish floor boards
Home and Living

Cottagecore Design

The term “cottagecore design” has risen by 100% since November 2025, with the term “cottagecore” itself now getting nearly 10,000 searches (9,900), according to Traditional Beams. Cottagecore refers to an aesthetic that romanticises simple, rural and sustainable living, popularised on platforms such as Instagram and Tiktok, and embraces a cosy and pastoral lifestyle. However, while…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Property specialist predicts spike in traditional interiors after Bridgerton hit

With Bridgerton Season 4 debuting with an impressive 39.7 million views in its first week on Netflix, property specialist predicts that traditional interiors will be the biggest renovation trend of 2026. Mitchell Martyn, Property Finance Specialist at Pure Property Finance, predicts that the appetite for traditional, heritage-inspired interiors is set to surge once again. As…
Read More
Breaking News

Reduced supply of homes to landlords selling up

2025 saw Westminster enact one of the biggest changes to England’s private rental sector in decades via the Renters’ Rights Act, and it has already triggered a mixed response from those working in the property industry alongside landlords. One of the biggest changes includes the retirement of section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. This is a move…
Read More
Estate Agents should not all look the same
Letting Agent Talk

The Art of the Add-On: 5 Simple Ways Letting Agents Can Upsell in 2026

Letting agents are brilliant at delivering value, but not always brilliant at charging for it, according to Sally Lawson… Here are her five simple steps for charging for what you’re worth (and more) this year. “Far too many agents bundle services together, do the extra work, solve problems, take calls, fix issues. And they never…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove reaction to the Bank of England Base Rate decision

Matt Smith, Mortgage Expert at Rightmove, said: “Today’s decision to hold the Bank Rate was widely expected, and for most homeowners and home‑buyers, there’s no immediate change to worry about. For those looking to secure a new mortgage rate or coming up to remortgage, even small rises in rates can have a real impact on…
Read More