London has been named the slowest housing market in the UK with homes taking an average of 67 days to sell and nearly half lingering for more than six months, according to new research.
Housebuyers4u analysed more than 65 major UK cities using metrics including time to sell, price reductions and affordability pressures, highlighting where sellers are struggling most to secure buyers.
Across London, 47% of homes remain on the market for more than six months, while 14% require price reductions of at least 5% to achieve a sale.
Average property values stand at £660,000, equivalent to 16.6 times the typical salary of £39,700.
AFFORDABILITY MISMATCH
The findings point to a growing mismatch between pricing and buyer affordability, particularly in higher-value markets where borrowing constraints and cost-of-living pressures continue to weigh on demand.
Bournemouth ranks second, with 36% of homes unsold after six months and an average selling time of 48 days, while Brighton follows in third place. In Brighton, buyers face one of the highest affordability barriers, with average house prices equivalent to 15 times annual earnings.
Elsewhere, Croydon stands out for supply pressures, with nearly 10 listings per 1,000 residents, contributing to longer selling times. Slough completes the top five, where one in 10 homes sees price reductions and properties take an average of 50 days to sell.
Lower earnings are also impacting market activity in regional cities. In Norwich, where median salaries are among the lowest at £30,400, affordability constraints are limiting buyer demand despite more modest house prices.
PRICING EXPECTATIONS
The report suggests that while demand remains present, pricing expectations are increasingly out of step with buyer capacity, leading to extended selling times and greater reliance on price adjustments.
Paul Gibbens, property expert at Housebuyers4u, says: “The slowdown in markets like London and Bournemouth has a lot to do with sellers holding onto price expectations that no longer match the market. Buyers are more selective than ever, and overpriced homes are taking much longer to sell.
“A house sitting unsold for six months is rarely a demand problem. It’s usually about affordability. The sellers who accept that early tend to move on. The ones who don’t often end up cutting their price anyway, just three months later.”
