Annual house price growth is becoming increasingly uncommon across the UK, with only a small proportion of properties recording consistent increases in value over the past five years.
According to Zoopla, just 14% of homes — around 4.2 million out of 30 million properties — experienced annual price growth every year between June 2021 and June 2026.
Although the average UK home increased in value by 15.3% during this period, adding around £36,100 to the typical property price, the gains were not spread evenly across each year.
The five-year period marked a major shift in the housing market, moving away from the era of historically low mortgage rates in 2021 towards a market where borrowing costs have remained between 4% and 5%.
With mortgage rates now significantly higher than five years ago, many buyers have faced increased affordability pressures, affecting demand and influencing local house price trends.
Local Markets Show Different Trends
Zoopla’s executive director of research, Richard Donnell, said the past five years have highlighted how differently local property markets have responded to rising mortgage costs.
He explained that areas including Northern Ireland, the North of England and Scotland have continued to see stronger equity growth because they were less affected by affordability challenges linked to higher borrowing costs.
Donnell added that homeowners should not rely solely on national or regional averages when assessing their property’s value.
Understanding how individual local markets have performed is important for homeowners planning their next move, as some areas have continued building equity while others have seen prices remain largely unchanged.
North West Leads UK Regions
Zoopla’s analysis found that higher mortgage rates have had a greater impact on expensive property markets, while more affordable areas have generally maintained stronger demand.
The North West recorded the highest share of homes with consistent annual growth, with 30% of properties increasing in value every year during the five-year period.
In Yorkshire and the Humber, 22% of homes achieved annual price growth throughout the same timeframe.
By comparison, southern regions of England saw far fewer properties achieve uninterrupted growth, with fewer than 5% of homes recording yearly increases.
Areas With Strongest Price Growth
Bonnybridge in Scotland recorded the highest proportion of homes rising in value each year, with 60.8% of properties achieving consistent growth.
The average property price in the area stood at around £220,000, with nearby locations including Falkirk, Stirling and Glasgow helping support demand.
In London, Dagenham also performed strongly compared with the wider capital. Average property values of around £400,000 remained significantly below London’s average of £525,000, while improved transport links, including the Elizabeth line and the Overground extension to Barking Riverside, helped attract buyers.
Bicester was another area where values increased consistently, with 28% of homes recording annual price growth throughout the five-year period.
Property Falls Remained Rare
While some areas experienced slower growth, consistent house price declines were uncommon.
Zoopla found that only 0.2% of UK properties — approximately 56,000 homes — saw their value fall every year between June 2021 and June 2026.
Aberdeen recorded one of the highest concentrations of properties experiencing annual declines, with 5.9% of homes falling in value each year.
Zoopla attributed this partly to the long-term economic changes affecting the North Sea oil and gas sector.
What This Means For Homeowners
The latest figures highlight the importance of looking beyond national house price averages, as property performance can vary significantly between locations.
While some areas have continued to deliver steady price growth and build homeowner equity, others have faced affordability challenges and weaker demand due to changing mortgage conditions.
For buyers and sellers, understanding local market trends remains essential when making decisions in an increasingly uneven housing market.
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