House prices rise again... but flats buck the trend

Property prices in the UK rose once more in September, following August's slight fall - but new figures show flats remain out of favour with buyers.

- KARL MATCHETT

Nationwide data shows prices are up 0.5 per cent month to month, keeping annual prices rising at 2.2 per cent. But the statistics show there are major differences in price changes between the north and south of the UK, as well as in the property type.

Semidetached properties rose 3.4 per cent over the last 12 months, while detached (2.5 per cent) and terraced (2.4 per cent) saw slightly slower price rises. The cost of flats continues to decline, seeing average prices fall by 0.3 per cent.

Figures further show the price of a typical flat increasing by around 20 per cent over the past 10 years - less than half of the price growth of terraced houses over the same period.

Despite the ongoing year-on-year price growth, the third quarter of 2025 - July to September - saw a slowdown in price increases, which experts believe is connected to Budget uncertainty as people remain cautious with their money and plans.