UK house prices rise 3.8% in April - ONS

17th Jun 2026 10:31

(Sharecast News) - UK house prices rose in the year to April at the highest annual rate since March 2025 before Stamp Duty changes were implemented, according to figures released on Wednesday by the Office for National Statistics.

House prices increased 3.8% to an average £270,000, following no growth in March. Average house prices ticked up to £291,000 in England, £212,000 in Wales, and £192,000 in Scotland.

The data also showed that monthly private rents rose 3.3% in the year to May, down from 3.5% in the 12 months to April, continuing the general trend of slowing UK rent annual inflation since December 2024.

Average rents increased to £1,442 in England, £836 in Wales, and £1,009 in Scotland.

Paige Tao, economist at PwC UK, said the headline is misleading as last April's stamp duty changes pulled transactions forward, leaving a weak base that inflates today's number.

"Transactions fell 3% to 101,030, as buyers remain cautious about big purchases amid rising energy costs and cost-of-living concerns," she said. "Elevated mortgage rates further squeezed affordability.

"But there are two counterweights. First, sellers are competing hard. Listings postponed from last winter still haven't cleared, and landlords offloading ahead of the Renters' Reform Bill are adding to the pile. Second, major lenders cut fixed-rate deals last week as markets settle following the initial shock of the US-Iran conflict. With a framework agreement now in place and no evidence of second-round inflationary effects so far, mortgage pricing should ease further. That could open a real window for first-time buyers looking to step onto the ladder.

"London house prices have now fallen for eleven consecutive months. Stretched affordability in the capital is meeting a structural shift: hybrid and remote working continue to reshape where people choose to live, pulling demand outward. Outer London has broadly tracked England's average growth over the past two years, while inner London has lost ground."