These are the property hotspots bucking the SDLT deadline price slide
Last week, the latest UK House Price Index from the Land Registry revealed a sharp 3.7% monthly drop in average UK house prices during April 2025, following the expiry of temporary stamp duty support at the end of March.
Further analysis by eXp UK, the platform for personal estate agents, shows that house prices across England are now down 0.9% since the start of the year, with several regions and local markets seeing more significant corrections.
All but one region has seen house prices decline
According to eXp UK’s breakdown of regional figures, the North West (-1.9%), North East (-1.6%), West Midlands (-1.3%), and South West (-1.2%) have seen the most significant regional declines, although every region but London has seen prices reduce since the start of the year.
But despite London’s overall positive performance, the capital has seen some of the largest house price declines when analysing the market at a more granular level.
Camden (-8.6%), Hammersmith and Fulham (-7.8%), and the City of Westminster (-5.7%) are among the hardest-hit, reflecting a cooling at the very top end of the capital’s prime market. Other notable decliners include Castle Point (-4.9%), Broadland (-4.9%), Tower Hamlets (-4.8%), and Adur (-4.5%).
But some areas are bucking the trend
Despite the wider downturn, eXp UK’s analysis also reveals that several local markets are defying the national trend, with strong momentum and above-average growth since the start of the year.
The best-performing areas include Salford, up 7.6%, as well as Middlesbrough and Uttlesford, which were both up by 7.5%. Other strong growth areas are North Kesteven (6.8%), Basingstoke and Deane (6.7%), Tandridge (6.6%), East Staffordshire (6.4%), Ribble Valley (6.2%), Barking and Dagenham (5.9%), and Kingston upon Thames (5.7%).
These markets are being buoyed by localised demand, regeneration, affordability relative to nearby areas, and in some cases, a return to urban living after several years of pandemic-induced relocation trends.
See how your local area has performed so far this year here.
Adam Day, head of eXp UK and Europe, commented: “This latest reduction in property values is a clear reflection of the impact government support can have on buyer behaviour – with the end of the stamp duty incentive pulling forward demand into Q1 and creating a vacuum in April. But beneath the headline figures, the market remains diverse and dynamic.
We’re seeing sustained buyer interest and price growth in a wide range of regions – from Salford, to Middlesbrough, Uttlesford and Tandridge. These hotspots show that well-connected, affordable, or desirable areas are continuing to attract strong interest.
As always, property remains a hyper-local asset, and while some parts of the country are undergoing correction, others are thriving.”
Data Tables and Sources
- *Data sources from the UK House Price Index (Jan 2025 to Apr 2025).
- View full data tables and sources online here.