Quick summary: New property data reveals stark regional disparities in the UK housing market, with cities like Aberdeen and Salford seeing over 60% of listed homes remain unsold after a month due to local affordability issues and rapid apartment developments. Conversely, competitive Scottish hubs like Glasgow and commuter locations like Basingstoke experience far faster sales cycles, driven by strong employment opportunities and superior local affordability. For public policy and community well-being, these findings show that internal supply and demand dynamics matter far more than city size, highlighting the need for targeted regional economic strategies to prevent housing stagnation and alleviate the profound psychological stress associated with prolonged property sales.
A new study has highlighted significant variations in the speed of the UK property market, with some cities seeing more than half of homes linger unsold for over a month.
The research by Property Buyers Today analysed property data from Rightmove across the 80 largest cities in the UK. It focused on the proportion of properties listed for over 36 days, which according to Zoopla is the average length of time properties spend on the market in England and Wales.
The findings underscore how local factors such as affordability, employment, and new supply influence property sales across the UK. The data reveals that a city’s internal supply and demand dynamics are far more important than its overall size or reputation.
The 10 hardest cities to sell property
Aberdeen tops the list as the UK’s most difficult property market. The relatively small number of listings in Aberdeen compared with major cities suggests a demand issue rather than an oversupply issue. Conversely, Salford suffers from a large volume of similar properties competing at the same time due to major regeneration, particularly in apartment developments. Housing growth in Peterborough over recent decades has also left buyers with plenty of options.
In London, high property prices contribute to slower sales, especially since buyers have far more choice than in other housing markets. In Preston, weak demand slows the market, though the area may benefit from future pricing adjustments.
The full top 10 hardest cities to sell property, including total listings and the number of properties unsold after 36 days, are
- Aberdeen: 299 out of 488 listings (61.3%)
- Salford: 1,142 out of 1,890 listings (60.4%)
- Peterborough: 1,071 out of 1,820 listings (58.8%)
- London: 35,753 out of 61,050 listings (58.6%)
- Preston: 410 out of 711 listings (57.7%)
- Blackpool: 731 out of 1,275 listings (57.3%)
- Birmingham: 3,406 out of 5,941 listings (57.3%)
- Nottingham: 1,106 out of 1,943 listings (56.9%)
- Slough: 670 out of 1,185 listings (56.5%)
- Exeter: 800 out of 1,418 listings (56.4%)
- Luton: 804 out of 1,433 listings (56.1%)
The 10 easiest cities to sell property
In contrast, the study identified locations where properties sell much faster. Glasgow is the easiest city to sell property in the UK, boasting a competitive and fast-moving market driven by good affordability and local developments like the Clyde Gateway Innovation District. High-value homes in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh also continue to attract buyers, particularly in areas such as the West End, Stockbridge, and Dean Village.
Commuting opportunities and relative affordability compared to the rest of Hampshire make Basingstoke highly attractive to buyers, keeping demand in pace with supply. Swindon benefits from similar advantages, offering strong commuter links and affordability compared to nearby cities such as Bath and Oxford. Bristol features a fast-moving market with strong demand and supply, driven by good employment opportunities and lifestyle appeal, while holding by far the most listings among the top 10 easiest cities.
The full top 10 easiest cities to sell property, including total listings and the number of properties unsold after 36 days, are
- Glasgow: 571 out of 1,824 listings (31.3%)
- Edinburgh: 630 out of 1,551 listings (40.6%)
- Basingstoke: 281 out of 685 listings (41%)
- Swindon: 615 out of 1,463 listings (42%)
- Bristol: 1,478 out of 3,467 listings (42.6%)
- Worcester: 352 out of 795 listings (44.3%)
- Gloucester: 536 out of 1,189 listings (45.1%)
- Plymouth: 710 out of 1,570 listings (45.2%)
- Blackburn: 202 out of 440 listings (45.9%)
- Norwich: 855 out of 1,861 listings (45.9%)
- Northampton: 770 out of 1,667 listings (46.2%)
Industry Expert Analysis
Saif Derzi, Founder of Property Buyers Today, commented on the findings: “It’s interesting that Scotland’s three largest cities occupy important spots in both rankings, with Aberdeen having the highest percentage of properties unsold after 36 days in the UK, while Glasgow and Edinburgh have the lowest percentages.”
“London’s fourth spot may be surprising. However, many people confuse a large market with a liquid market, as the large number of available properties means buyers have enormous choice. This means it can take a while for properties to eventually sell.”
“The findings suggest that each city’s supply and demand dynamics are more important than size or reputation. Cities with a better balance between available listings and consistent interest maintain a steady, and faster-moving market.”