Property values rise at 5.3 times the rate of earnings

House prices across Britain rise at 5.3 times the rate of earnings in the last year

The latest research from eXp UK has found that the average house price in Great Britain has increased at 5.3 times the rate of average earnings over the past year, highlighting a widening affordability gap for homebuyers.

eXp UK analysed Gov data on the current annual increase in both house prices and earnings across each region of the UK, with the data revealing significant regional disparities, despite house prices consistently outpacing earnings growth across each region of the country.

The research shows that the current average house price now stands at £271,403, an increase of £10,087 over the last year. In comparison, the average annual salary in Britain has risen by just £1,921 over the same period, from £38,413 to £40,334.

This means that the average home in Great Britain has increased at 5.3 times the rate of average earnings over the past year.

The East of England and East Midlands recorded the greatest disparity, with house price growth outstripping earnings growth by 6.7 times.

Scotland (6.4 times), Wales (6.3 times), Yorkshire and the Humber (5.8 times), and the North East (5.8 times) also experienced pronounced differences between property price increases and salary rises.

London, despite its higher salary levels, saw house prices rise 4.7 times faster than earnings, alongside the West Midlands region.

The North West (3.8 times), South East (3.7 times), and South West (3.3 times) showed relatively lower, but still substantial, gaps.

Adam Day, Head of eXp UK and Europe, commented:

“This research underscores the continued challenge for homebuyers as property values continue to rise significantly faster than incomes.

With house prices growing more than five times quicker than earnings nationwide, buyers face increased pressure and reduced affordability.

Regional variations highlight that while some areas remain relatively accessible, many buyers will continue to find the market increasingly difficult to enter or move within.”

EAN Breaking News

Breaking News from the team at Estate Agent Networking. Have a new story to share with us? Then please get in contact today! When and where we can we will refer to third party websites with a 'live link back' where news was released first.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Property expert on how to bag the BEST mortgage deal in today’s market

Finding a good mortgage deal in today’s market demands more than just comparing rates. While the average 2-year and 5-year fixed mortgage rates have gone down this year, they’re still higher than rates pre-pandemic. This means those in their current homes will have to pay more than they once were each month, and new buyers…
Read More
Breaking News

Halloween Named the UK’s Most Popular Moving Day of 2025

Halloween was the most popular day to move house in 2025, breaking the long-standing trend of summer being the busiest time for home moves. We analysed the data and spoke to industry experts to understand why the peak moving day has shifted and why it fell on an international holiday.  Compare My Move reviewed more than 170,000 house moves made in 2025 and…
Read More
for sale sign london
Breaking News

Industry Response to Halifax House Price Index

Industry response to the Halifax House Price Index December 2025 The latest index shows that: – On a monthly basis, house prices fell by 0.6% between November and December of last year. Annually, house prices were up 0.3% versus this time last year, although this annual rate of growth had slowed from 0.7% the previous…
Read More
Breaking News

Halifax House Price Index December 2025

House prices in December 2025 were 0.3% higher compared to the same month a year earlier. UK house prices dipped in December • House prices dipped by -0.6% in December, following a -0.1% fall in November • Average property price is now £297,755, the lowest since June • Annual growth slowed to +0.3%, down from…
Read More
Breaking News

Homebuyer demand returns following Autumn Budget

New research from Property DriveBuy reveals that Bristol, Tyne & Wear, and South Yorkshire emerged as the UK’s most in-demand areas of the housing market following the Autumn Budget, with as many as 61% of homes listed for sale successfully securing a buyer in Q4 2025. Property Drivebuy analysed residential listings data across the nation…
Read More
Breaking News

Economic uncertainty tops agents’ worries in 2026

“Make-or-break” 2026 looms for estate agents as costs, red tape and reform pile pressure on sector Agents warn of ‘survival year’ ahead as new Alto Agency Trends Report reveals deep fears over rising costs and regulation UK estate and letting agents are heading into 2026 fearing a make-or-break year, as soaring costs, economic uncertainty and…
Read More