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UK house prices fall for first time since 2023, led by London and south-east
United Kingdom🏛️ PoliticsCenter9/7/2026

UK house prices fall for first time since 2023, led by London and south-east

UK house prices fell for the first time in nearly three years in August 2024, marking a 0.4% annual decline according to Lloyds Bank. This downturn followed months of higher mortgage rates, geopolitical tensions, and affordability challenges. The average property price stood at £298,468, with London and the southeast experiencing sharper declines. While Northern Ireland saw strong growth, other regions showed mixed results. Experts noted that both buyers and sellers are cautious, with sellers hesitant to lower prices and buyers waiting for clearer market conditions.

UK house prices fell for the first time in nearly three years in August, marking a decline of 0.4% compared to the previous year, according to Lloyds Bank data. This downturn was primarily observed in London and the southeast, with the latter reporting the largest drop at 1.6%, bringing its average price to £381,729. The decline followed months of heightened mortgage rate volatility, with the average two-year fixed rate reaching 5.6% and the five-year rate at 5.66%, both above levels recorded earlier in the year. Lloyds attributed the slowdown to increased borrowing costs, geopolitical tensions, and broader economic uncertainties. Andrew Asaam, a director at Lloyds, noted that the housing market remained “subdued,” with fewer transactions and less price competition. He emphasized that while some buyers were holding off, others were hesitant to accept offers they considered undervalued. Mortgage approvals hit their lowest point since early 2024, reflecting buyer caution. Jeremy Leaf, an estate agent in north London, described the current situation as a “standoff” between anxious buyers and sellers who had already adjusted their pricing strategies. He suggested that setting realistic initial prices could help ease the tension. Regional performance varied significantly. Northern Ireland saw the strongest growth, with an annual increase of 6.9% to £231,245. Scotland recorded a 3.5% rise to £223,437, while Wales experienced a modest 0.6% increase to £230,282. In England, the northern regions showed resilience, with the northeast growing 2.7% to £184,370 and the northwest rising 2% to £248,675. RBC Capital Markets analyst Anthony Codling highlighted the pressures facing the market, noting that sellers were not drastically lowering prices but instead maintaining stability, while buyers awaited clearer guidance on future interest rate trends.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 2 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

2 reports

The Guardian (UK) logoThe Guardian (UK)IndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 909/7/2026
UK house prices fall for first time since 2023, led by London and south-east

UK house prices fell for the first time in nearly three years in August 2024, marking a 0.4% annual decline according to Lloyds Bank. This downturn followed months of higher mortgage rates, geopolitical tensions, and affordability challenges. The average property price stood at £298,468, with London and the southeast experiencing sharper declines. While Northern Ireland saw strong growth, other regions showed mixed results. Experts noted that both buyers and sellers are cautious, with sellers hesitant to lower prices and buyers waiting for clearer market conditions.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced overview of the housing market trends without overtly favoring any political ideology. It reports on economic factors like mortgage rates and geopolitical issues without taking a clear stance on policy solutions or political responsibility. The framing remains neutral

Why factuality (95): The article accurately reports the decline in UK house prices based on Lloyds data, citing specific figures such as a 0.4% drop compared to a year ago and a 0.2% drop from July to August. It also includes direct quotes from Andrew Asaam and mentions relevant factors like mortgage rates and geopoliti

Why objectivity (90): The article maintains a neutral tone throughout, presenting facts and expert statements without overt bias. It avoids emotionally charged language and provides balanced coverage of both buyer and seller perspectives. However, it slightly emphasizes the 'subdued' nature of the market through the quot

Reuters logoReutersIndependentCenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 959/7/2026
UK house prices fall for first time since November 2023, Lloyds data shows

According to data from Lloyds Banking Group, UK house prices experienced their first decline since November 2023. This marks a shift in the housing market after a period of sustained growth. The drop in prices could indicate changing buyer behavior or broader economic factors influencing the property market. Such trends are often linked to interest rates, economic uncertainty, or shifts in demand and supply dynamics.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data about a change in house prices without overtly favoring any political perspective. It does not include commentary or framing that suggests a particular ideological stance.

Why factuality: no official source document/info detected

Why objectivity (95): The article is highly objective, presenting the information in a straightforward manner without any apparent bias or emotional language. It simply states the fact without commentary or interpretation, making it very neutral in tone.

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