UK house prices: cost of flats and small homes increasing faster than bigger properties as buyer trends change

Smaller homes, like flats, are experiencing a sharper surge in prices compared to larger properties due to affordability challenges.

Halifax noted a shift in demand, departing from the "race for space" trend observed during the pandemic, where buyers favoured larger residences.

In the year to February, the average price of flats rose by 2.7%, slightly outpacing the 2.6% increase in terraced property values, according to Halifax's data. In contrast, semi-detached and detached homes saw more modest price hikes, climbing by 1.7% and 2.0%, respectively.

Across Britain, Scotland saw the strongest growth in prices for flats over the past year, with a 5.9% increase, Halifax said. Yorkshire and the Humber was the only English region to record a fall in prices for flats over the past year, with a decrease of 2.9%.

The region also recorded the biggest increase in detached house prices over the past year, at 5.0%.

The north east of England, meanwhile, has seen the biggest percentage rise in the typical price of a terraced home, at 7.6%, as well as the biggest increase in the average price of a semi-detached home, at 5.9%.

Read more: The cheapest areas for renters and city houses for first-time buyers revealed

In cash terms, detached homes increased by the most in price, by £8,853 on average in the year to February. The average price for a flat rose by £4,290.

The squeeze on mortgage affordability in the higher interest rate environment has given many potential homebuyers pause for thought before making a move, Halifax said.

But it added that, as rates have stabilised and activity has started to pick up, it is smaller homes that have recorded the strongest increases in price growth in the early part of this year.

Homebuyers have been adjusting their expectations to compensate for higher borrowing costs, as well as coping with the general cost-of-living squeeze, the bank suggested. Halifax added that a “resilient” first-time buyer market has also helped.

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While the overall number of first-time buyers is lower than recent years, the sector made up 53% of all homes bought with a mortgage in 2023 – the highest proportion since 1995 – according to Halifax.

Flats and terraced houses made up 57% of homes purchased by first-time buyers last year, it added.

Here are the average increases in UK properties by type in the year to February, according to Halifax. Figures show average prices in February 2024 and the annual increase in percentage and cash terms:

• Flat, £163,016, 2.7%, £4,290
• Terraced, £224,173, 2.6%, £5,643
• Semi-detached, £295,199, 1.7%, £4,797
• Detached, £451,655, 2.0%, £8,853

Amanda Bryden, head of Halifax Mortgages, said: “As interest rates have stabilised and buyers adjust to the new economic reality of owning a home, one way to compensate for higher borrowing costs is to target smaller properties.

“This is especially true among first-time buyers, who have proven to be resilient over recent years, and now account for the largest proportion of homes purchased with a mortgage in almost 30 years.

“We see this reflected in property prices for the first few months of this year, with the value of flats rising most sharply, closing the ‘growth gap’ on bigger properties that’s existed for most of the last four years.”

The figures were released as property website Zoopla said it expects around 100,000 more property sales to take place this year than in 2023, with around 1.1 million sales in 2024 versus one million in 2023.

Zoopla said that housing markets in southern England and the East Midlands are particularly likely to be continuing to register price falls.

Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla said: “The pipeline of sales is growing and we expect 100,000 more people to move home in 2024 than last year.”