The property market continues to provide mixed results, with the North outperforming the South of England and London.
With an Autumn budget looming over the horizon against a backdrop of continued financial uncertainty, an air of caution is settling over the UK property market.
However, as we previously reported in our July 2025 market update, regional variations continue to paint a more nuanced picture, with the South of England driving a slight fall in annual house price growth compared to this time last year.
Despite this sluggishness, there are still several encouraging signs of life across the market. The average asking price of properties coming to market rose in September, and the number of sales agreed has increased by 4% compared to the previous 12 months, according to Rightmove’s September House Price Index. (1)
This suggests that while investors and buyers in the upper echelons of the market are responding cautiously to potential changes to property taxation, most buyers are pressing ahead with their property journeys.
Although there has been some variation in reporting from industry sources, house price growth has remained muted for several months, with most commentators reporting only modest monthly house price increases.
According to its August 2025 House Price Index (2), house price growth fell by 1.3% for a third consecutive month, in line with what it refers to as ‘a usual August drop’, while year-on-year house prices saw a 0.3% increase.
Conversely, in its September 2025 House Price Index, Rightmove noted a 0.4% increase in new seller asking prices, while year-on-year prices fell by 0.1%.
In terms of market activity, it is worth noting that both reports indicated increases in agreed sales of eight per cent and four per cent for August and September, respectively.
Taking into account a broader market outlook, it is worth noting that figures from Dataloft show broadly positive trends for both monthly and annual house prices.
Although the most recently available data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Hometrack is only available as of July 2025, their reporting shows an increase in both monthly and year-on-year house price growth.
Nationwide, however, shows a decline in monthly house price growth of 0.1% for August, with annual growth of 2.1%.
Halifax notes an August monthly increase of 0.3% in house price growth, with a 2.2% annual rise in house prices.
According to Dataloft, there were 95,580 transactions in July, a 4.3% rise year-on-year (HMRC).
This trend is in line with Rightmove reporting, which indicated an increase of as much as 8 per cent in agreed sales during July, followed by a further rise of four per cent in August.
While it is true that house price growth has slowed, there doesn’t appear to be a sharp decline in house prices or buyer demand.
Monthly house prices are always subject to both seasonal fluctuations and impacts from the wider newscycle; however, the year-on-year outlook provides a somewhat clear picture and indicates a housing market that has remained much more resilient than some commentators had expected.
The regional picture across the UK remains comparatively varied, with underperforming regions impacting wider average UK house price growth according to Rightmove.
In its September 2025 House Price Index, Rightmove noted that the East of England experienced a 0.4% decrease in monthly house price growth, while the West Midlands saw a 0.7% drop in house price growth.
Most notably, several regions in the South of England have seen yearly decreases in house price growth. The South East saw a 0.7% year-on-year drop in house prices, while the South West experienced a 1.3% fall in prices.
London also saw a decline of house prices, with year-on-year house price growth falling by 1.1% – although the city also experienced a 1.2% monthly increase in house prices.
Reporting from Rightmove suggests that house price growth in the North of England is currently much stronger than elsewhere.
This is great news for sellers in the North West, which experienced a 0.7% increase in monthly house price growth during August and an impressive 3.2% year-on-year rise in prices – the highest of any region in the report.
This sentiment is repeated in the RICs August 2025 UK Residential Market Survey (3), which noted increased house price growth and new buyer enquiries for August and the previous three months.
Seasonal trends meant that respondents reported a fall in newly agreed sales for August across the North West; however, the three-month trend remains positive.
With buyers continuing to eye the North West, there’s never been a better time for sellers to take advantage of a highly engaged market.
Sellers in the higher band of the property market will feel a greater sense of urgency ahead of rumoured Stamp Duty Land Tax changes as the Autumn budget approaches.
Likewise, first-time buyers and landlords continue to drive competition at auction, meaning that, here again, vendors have an excellent opportunity to sell property quickly and at a good price.
With over 40 years of experience in helping clients to buy and sell property across Tameside, Stockport, Cheshire, and Greater Manchester, Edward Mellor are ready to support you at every stage of your property journey.
We also run the North West’s leading monthly online property auction, meaning that we can facilitate using the fastest method available to vendors.
To find out how much your property could be worth and take the first step toward selling your home, contact our friendly, professional team for a free property valuation.
(1) Rightmove September House Price Index
(2) Rightmove August House Price Index
(3) RICS Residential Market Survey August 2025
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