House prices: The UK regions where house prices have increased by nearly 7% – full list

The north-south divide widens in the UK property market as Northern Ireland sees house prices surge by 7.2 per cent compared to just 1-1.2 per cent in London and southern England.

The North West also performed strongly with three per cent growth over the past year.

The average UK house price now stands at £267,200

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Annual house price change

1. Belfast – up 6.9%
2. Liverpool – up 3.5%
3. Manchester – up 3.4%
4. Sheffield – up 2.7%
5. Newcastle – up 2.6%
6. Birmingham – up 2.5%
7. Leeds – up 2.1%
8. Nottingham – up 2%
9. Cardiff – up 2%
10. Glasgow – up 1.7%
11. Bristol – up 1.5%
12. Cambridge – up 1.5%
13. Bournemouth – up 1.2%
14. London – up 1.2%
15. Southampton – up 1.1%
16. Oxford – up 1.1%
17. Portsmouth – up 1%
18. Edinburgh – up 1%
19. Leicester – up 0.9%

Sales activity in the housing market continues to show positive momentum, with all key measures running 10-11 per cent higher than a year ago.

This increased activity mirrors other economic indicators, including robust earnings growth, higher retail sales and improving consumer confidence.

Stamp duty changes from April 2025 are expected to dampen house price growth, with half of homeowners facing an extra £2,500 per purchase.

Another third will pay up to this level, while two-fifths of first-time buyers will pay more stamp duty, up from 20 per cent today. Buyers are likely to factor these additional costs into their offers, typically looking to split the expense with sellers.

Despite the value gap, buyers continue to prioritise houses over flats, with Zoopla data showing a significant shift in preferences.

In 2017, 44 per cent of first-time buyers looking outside London wanted a 3-bed house, rising to 52 per cent by the end of 2024.

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Belfast has seen a 6.9 per cent house price growth

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Demand for one and 2-bed flats declined from 25 per cent to 17 per cent over the same period.

This trend persists despite compelling financial advantages, with monthly mortgage repayments on flats 43 per cent lower than rental costs. In contrast, mortgage costs for houses are 22 per cent higher than renting.

The housing market remains resilient with more people looking to move home in 2025 and 2026 than this time last year.

Average earnings growth of six per cent over the last year, well ahead of inflation, is supporting buyer confidence and helping to reset affordability.