UK house price growth slows in last quarter of 2014.

The Guardian reports that according to the Nationwide Building Society  UK house price growth slowed sharply in the last 3 months of 2014, this cooling off of prices was most apparent in 3 regions of the UK..the north west..Yorkshire and Humberside..and Wales where it was recorded that there were outright price declines in the final quater of 2014. On a better note, generally house prices ended the year 8.3% higher than 2013, this price increase may well be exagerated by the fact that London was particularly strong, house prices in the capital are approx 35% above their former 2007 peak.
Furthermore “Nationwide’s chief economist, Robert Gardner, said: “All regions except the north of England saw a slowing in annual price growth in the final quarter of 2014. London was the top performing region for the second year running. Yorkshire and Humberside was the weakest performing English region, with prices up 1.5% over the year”
Where do we go from here in 2015? what will we be reporting on house prices this time next year? The stamp duty changes announced by Chancellor George Osborne which will involve 98% of house buyers paying less tax may only have a limited impact on the slowdown in house price growth, stricter mortgage rules will definately have an effect in reducing the number of mortgage approvals. The up and coming election will more than likely create an air of uncertainty and buyers may hold back from committing to their purchase till after the election, it may not be all over by then as we may face the possibility of another coalition, that will be very interesting! Most are however positive about the fact that we will see further gains in prices in 2015, I go along with that but may not be as much as some people are expecting.

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

Breaking Property News 21/11/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   VE+ the new procurement engine cutting developers costs without compromise Finishes packages are specification sensitive and expensive components of any build – VE+ fixes this  As construction costs continue to climb and procurement timelines tighten, developers and contractors are being pushed harder than ever…
Read More
Breaking News

Inheritance Tax Receipts raise £5.2 billion in seven months

Inheritance tax (IHT) receipts hit £5.2 billion in the first seven months of the 2025/26 tax year, according to data released by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) this morning. This is £0.2 billion higher than same period of the previous tax year and continues an upward trend over the last two decades. Nicholas Hyett, Investment…
Read More
Breaking News

FMB calls on Reeves to scrap housing tax threat

The Chancellor needs to scrap the Government’s proposed landfill tax quarry exemption which will add up to £28,000 to the cost of homes on small sites in next week’s Autumn Budget, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “At a time when the Government is failing to…
Read More
Breaking News

Full Steam Ahead! UK Construction to return to growth in 2026

Construction intelligence specialists predict renewed activity following false-start over the summer. Revised figures will see UK construction sector grow 21% over the next two years Private housebuilding remains on course to grow significantly, with activity still predicted to rise by almost a fifth in 2027 Commercial office starts set to continue their ascent, and increasing…
Read More
Breaking News

Winter is Coming: Douglas & Gordon Warns Landlords and Tenants to Take Action Before Disputes Occur

Mould, damp, burst pipes and boilers on the blink? With temperatures set to plummet in London this week, real-estate agent Douglas & Gordon is advising landlords and tenants to take action before issues occur. With 45% of landlords experiencing arrears or disputes, often linked to property condition or delayed maintenance* the agent’s expert lettings team…
Read More
Breaking News

Home sellers slashing asking prices amid Budget speculation

The latest research from Property DriveBuy reveals that homesellers are slashing asking prices across the country in an attempt to attract buyers in a stagnant pre-Budget housing market. The latest asking price data* shows that the average asking price in Britain (£364,833) fell by -1.8% between October and November 2025, contributing to an overall annual…
Read More