New analysis from eXp UK suggests that some lesser-watched parts of the country have been responsible for the strongest house price growth over the past year, with North East Derbyshire, Melton and Oldham topping the national rankings.
As the year draws to a close, the agency has reviewed annual house price movements across all UK local authorities.
The findings point to a relatively subdued national picture, shaped by economic and political uncertainty, but one in which values have continued to edge higher. On average, UK house prices rose by 1.7% over the year.
Against that backdrop, a small number of local markets have delivered standout performances.
DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH
Three local authorities recorded double-digit annual growth, highlighting how pockets of strong demand have persisted despite wider market headwinds.
North East Derbyshire emerged as the strongest performer, with average prices rising by 10.5% over the year. Melton followed closely, recording growth of 10.4%, while Oldham ranked third with a 10.3% increase.
Elsewhere, Mid Ulster and Derry City and Strabane both posted close to double-digit gains. East Cambridgeshire and Argyll and Bute also saw prices rise by more than 9%, while Hartlepool rounded out the top ten with annual growth of 9.0%.
UNEXPECTED HOTSPOTS
Adam Day, Head of eXp UK and Europe, says: “While the national picture shows a steady but relatively modest rate of appreciation, it’s clear that there are still pockets of the market delivering incredibly strong growth, despite the wider market uncertainty that has enveloped the UK over the last year.
“What is particularly interesting is that many of the top performers are not the usual ‘hotspots’ we associate with rapid price rises and this underlines the ever evolving diversity of the UK housing market.
“Even in a year shaped by uncertainty, local fundamentals continue to drive growth and for both buyers and sellers, understanding their local market dynamic is essential, because the national average only tells a fraction of the story.”
