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Year on year, house prices continue to climb, but the average price dropped slightly for a second consecutive month between September and October.
The latest data from the Land Registry shows an annual rise of 1.7% in the 12 months to October, with the average UK house price now standing at £269,862.
However, average UK house prices fell by 0.1% between September and October, compared with a rise of 0.2% in the same period 12 months ago.
Here, Which? analyses what's happening to house prices according to other indices, including Halifax, Nationwide, Rightmove and Zoopla, explores regional differences, and explains what might come next in 2026.
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The Land Registry's UK House Price Index is the most reliable barometer of what's happening to house prices, as it's based on actual property sales rather than asking prices. It works on a two-month lag, so the most recent figures are for October 2025.
The Land Registry says the average price of a property in the UK increased by 1.7% between October 2024 and 2025.
There is a gap of £102,864 between the average price paid by first-time buyers and those who are already on the housing ladder in Great Britain (data isn't available for Northern Ireland):
In addition to Land Registry data, several other property price indices provide insight into current house prices.
The portal Rightmove provides the most up-to-date figures, but they're based on asking prices set by sellers rather than confirmed sales. Zoopla's figures are based on sold prices, mortgage valuations and recently agreed sales.
Nationwide and Halifax also publish their own monthly data, based on mortgage lending.
| House price index | Month-on-month change | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
| Rightmove (November 2025) | -1.8% | -0.6% |
| Zoopla (October 2025) | 0.0% | +1.3% |
| Nationwide (November 2025) | +0.3% | +1.8% |
| Halifax (November 2025) | 0.0% | +0.7% |
Land Registry data shows it was a mixed bag for average price increases and falls in October, across the UK.
The East of England, North East, North West, South East, West Midlands, Scotland and Wales experienced month-on-month increases, while average house prices in the East Midlands, London, South West and Yorkshire and Humber fell month-on-month. Wales registered the largest month-on-month increase, with a rise of 1.1%
Northern Ireland registered the greatest annual price change (7.1%). London and the South West are the only regions where the average house price is falling year-on-year.
| Country/region | Property price | Monthly change | Annual change |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | £292,000 | -0.1% | +1.4% |
| Scotland | £192,000 | +0.4% | +3.3% |
| Wales | £211,000 | 1.1% | +1.5% |
| Northern Ireland (July-September 2025) | £193,000 | n/a | +7.1% |
| East Midlands | £241,000 | -0.1% | +2.3% |
| East of England | £340,000 | +0.3% | +1.9% |
| London | £547,000 | -1.9% | -2.4% |
| North East | £163,000 | 1.3% | +5% |
| North West | £215,000 | +0.3% | +3.1% |
| South East | £384,000 | +0.3% | +0.7% |
| South West | £307,000 | -0.6% | -1.3% |
| West Midlands | £249,000 | +0.1% | +2.7% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £208,000 | -0.2% | +3.1% |
Source: UK House Price Index, 17 December 2025. Monthly data isn't available for Northern Ireland; figures are released each quarter. Average prices are rounded to the nearest thousand.
Housing transactions spiked in March as buyers rushed to complete before changes to stamp duty were introduced.
The most recent data from HMRC shows that an estimated 98,450 transactions took place in October 2025, down 2% from the figure in 2024.
The graph below illustrates the fluctuations in numbers over the past three years.
This depends on lots of factors, but broadly speaking, properties have been taking longer to sell due to high mortgage rates.
Rightmove says that sellers are currently taking an average of 70 days to secure a buyer.
There's a consensus among experts that house prices will rise next year:
Mortgage rates continue to fall. The average two-year fixed-rate mortgage was priced at 4.84% on 17 December 2025 compared with 5.52% on 1 February 2025.
Experts forecast that mortgage rates will fall further over the next 12 months, with the Bank of England likely to continue to reduce its base rate.
For the latest information, see our guide on the best mortgage rates, which is updated daily.
If you're approaching the end of your fixed term, our guide on what to do if you need to remortgage offers advice on your options.
Finally, if you're struggling to make your current repayments, see our guide on what to do if you can't pay your mortgage.
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This story is regularly updated with the latest house price index figures and expert views. The last update was on 17 December to include the latest Land Registry house price index data.
