House prices have fallen in real terms in nine of the 12 UK regions over the last decade, exclusive analysis by loveMONEY has found.
The findings are surprising as house price reports often paint a picture of property values booming. However, none of these address the question of whether house prices are keeping pace with inflation.
loveMONEY analysed house price data from the Office for National Statistics between 2005 and 2015 and then adjusted prices for inflation.
Here’s what we found.
|
UK region |
Average property price 2005* |
Average property price 2015* |
What average price should be in 2015 in line with inflation** |
Gain or loss in real terms |
|
North East |
£118,279 |
£121,316 |
£159,308 |
-£37,993 |
|
North West |
£126,355 |
£139,919 |
£170,186 |
-£30,268 |
|
Yorkshire and The Humber |
£125,859 |
£141,870 |
£169,518 |
-£27,648 |
|
East Midlands |
£140,046 |
£159,569 |
£188,627 |
-£29,058 |
|
West Midlands |
£145,496 |
£164,532 |
£195,968 |
-£31,435 |
|
East of England |
£177,150 |
£239,758 |
£238,601 |
£1,157 |
|
London |
£235,329 |
£425,134 |
£316,963 |
£108,171 |
|
South East |
£198,984 |
£276,942 |
£268,010 |
£8,931 |
|
South West |
£178,960 |
£218,993 |
£241,039 |
-£22,046 |
|
Wales |
£127,647 |
£138,632 |
£171,926 |
-£33,295 |
|
Scotland |
£104,860 |
£136,887 |
£141,234 |
-£4,346 |
|
Northern Ireland |
£119,746 |
£115,434 |
£161,285 |
-£45,851 |
*Figures from ONS data
*Figures obtained using Bank of England inflation calculator
Where values are down
If you’re a homeowner in Northern Ireland, you’re likely to have suffered the most, with the average house price falling £45,851 in real terms.
[SPOTLIGHT] Had prices kept pace with inflation, the average home would have cost £161,284 by the end of 2015, but instead it stood at just £115,434.
The area that has seen the second biggest ‘falls’ is the North East, where house prices are almost £38,000 lower in real terms.
This is followed by Wales (£33,295) and West Midlands (£31,435).
Of all the regions that have seen values fall, Scottish homeowners were the least affected, with inflation-adjusted prices down £4,346.
Where values are up
As we mentioned earlier, only three areas have outpaced inflation over the last decade.
You probably won’t be surprised to hear London tops the list, but the figures are still staggering.
The average home in the English capital now costs £425,134 – that’s £109,000 more than the inflation adjusted price from 2005.
In a very distant second on the list is the South East, where house prices are up just under £9,000 in real terms.
The only other region to beat inflation is the East of England, where prices are £1,157 up.
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