Sales of flats are plummeting in Manchester – Don’t Panic?

I’m sure many of us will have repeatedly seen positive news from Manchester regarding the property scene with many headlines based around prices increasing as well as demand. Of course, many other areas across the UK are quite opposite with London leading the way in price falls and the general agreement within the industry is that this trend is likely to continue as the Brexit jigsaw puzzle is trying to be pieced together.

Very recent reports though via the Manchester Evening News website runs with the headline of ‘Is the bubble about to burst?‘.

The story leads with the decline of property sales in the city of which flats sees the steepest downward trend. Of course, Brexit is on the menu for the reasoning behind the sales slump, but surely it is just part of what has happened countless times before in that the ripple effect from declines in the southern parts of England has travelled up north? Affordability must also play its part in the decline of sales?

A 22% drop in sales of flats and maisonettes during the 12 months to August of 2018 (national average was -8% across the UK) was reported compared to the previous 12 months – 2,606 sales compared to 3,359. The effect though has not seen a decline in prices and they continue to rise for the current time in Manchester.

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

Crowded beaches - Clacton-on-Sea in Essex
Breaking News

1 in 7 consider moving home to manage cooling costs in hotter weather

Two in five adults (40 per cent) say they would prefer to invest in home improvements to reduce overheating from the outset, rather than rely on cooling devices Three in 10 (30 per cent) are concerned about the impact of using electricity for cooling on their energy bills, while over four in 10 (44 per…
Read More
Breaking News

UK property fall-throughs cost estate agents estimated £2.8m every day

The latest research from GetAgent has found that property fall-throughs are costing UK estate agents an estimated £2.8m per day in delayed or lost commission income, highlighting the substantial financial impact that failed transactions continue to have across the industry. The research analysed residential property transactions that fell through during May 2026, alongside average regional…
Read More
Breaking News

Where are the UK’s most Instagrammable streets?

· New research from Lloyds reveals the most popular streets on Instagram and TikTok · Bath’s Royal Crescent tops the list, where average house prices are £590,786 · London, Edinburgh, Bristol, Cardiff and Manchester all feature in the top 20 · From £1.66m in Notting Hill to £158,559 near Loch Lomond – picture-perfect streets feature…
Read More
to let sign 2025
Letting Agent Talk

Northern Ireland emerging as one of the UK’s most attractive long-term rental investments

Northern Ireland rents have increased by approximately 51% over the past five years Tenant enquiries have risen by approximately 33%, highlighting continued demand for quality rental accommodation. Four of the five fastest-growing housing markets in the UK are located in Northern Ireland 26% of landlords in England sold at least one rental property during 2024,…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Homebuyers demand same-day conveyancing updates

New research from Lyons Bowe solicitors reveals that Britain’s homebuyers have little tolerance for poor communication during the conveyancing process, with buyers increasingly expecting same-day updates, prompt responses, and swift notification of any issues that could impact their purchase. The survey of current and recent homebuyers who have purchased a property within the last two years,…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 25/6/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Detecting property moisture defects without invasive or damaging procedures BEST Training, a specialist CPD provider for the built environment, has now launched Module 2 of its advanced course series: Investigating Moisture in Traditional Buildings. The module offers an end-to-end diagnostic curriculum for professionals working…
Read More