Average monthly house price growth across Britain has fallen into negative territory in 2026 for only the second time in the last decade, research from Yopa reveals.
The estate agency analysed average monthly house price growth between 2016 and 2026 and found that prices across Britain have so far declined by an average of -0.22% per month this year.
The decline follows weaker buyer demand driven by higher borrowing costs, affordability pressures and wider economic uncertainty, with sellers increasingly adjusting asking prices in order to secure a sale.
The only other year to record negative average monthly growth over the last decade was 2023, when prices fell by -0.23% per month on average.
REGIONAL DIFFERENCES
Despite a difficult market environment throughout 2025, prices still increased by an average of 0.15% per month last year, although this was down on the 0.24% monthly growth recorded in 2024.
Yopa said 2021 remained the strongest year of the last decade, with house prices rising by an average of 0.63% per month during the height of the pandemic-era property boom and stamp duty holiday.
The latest figures also show notable regional differences across Britain.
England has seen the smallest decline so far in 2026, with prices edging down by an average of -0.16% per month. Wales has experienced the steepest slowdown at -0.75% per month, while Scotland has recorded a decline of -0.45%.
GEOPOLITICAL UNCERTAINTY
Verona Frankish (main picture, inset), Chief Executive Officer at Yopa, says: “House price growth can often be erratic and heavily influenced by seasonality, economic conditions and wider buyer sentiment.
“However, when we look at the average monthly rate of growth over the course of a year, it gives us a far clearer picture of the overall direction of the market.
“Whilst the market entered 2026 on a relatively positive footing, a combination of economic uncertainty, affordability pressures and wider geopolitical instability has since caused momentum to soften and, as it stands, house prices are currently trending downwards across Britain.”
