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Brighter days and warmer temperatures are often the catalyst for increased property activity and last month was no different. Rightmove’s March House Price Index saw all its vital metrics increase. The figures provide a positive market overview.
Movers certainly have a spring in their step. The portal found a big leap in the number of sales agreed in March 2025, when compared to March 2024 – up 9%. The number of new sellers coming to market also increased, rising 8%. There’s a pleasing knock on effect for buyers, with the choice of homes at its highest for a decade.
Asking prices continue to rise
Optimism is also affecting the average asking price. This has risen +1.1% in the last month. In monetary terms, sellers were asking £3,876 more in March when compared to February. This lifted the UK’s average asking price to £371,870.
Sold…for a higher value
March saw rising asking prices impact final sold prices. Zoopla’s March House Price Index found the UK’s average house price was £267,500. This represented growth of 1.8% over the last 12 months.
The most recent Halifax House Price Index agreed that house prices had risen over the last year but the details differed. It said the UK’s current average property value was higher at £298,815. This translates to a more bullish annual increase of 2.9%.
Both sources found a North-South divide when it came to house price growth. The Halifax noted values were rising more aggressively in Yorkshire & Humberside, Scotland and Wales. Zoopla’s statistics drilled down further, finding city values were accelerating fastest in Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham. In comparison, house price growth was less than 1% in Bournemouth, Cambridge, Portsmouth and Southampton.
Pockets of price growth can be attributed to localised demand. Zoopla found buyer demand was 10% greater in Northern England, the Midlands and Scotland, when comparing 2025 to 2024. Buyer demand in Southern regions is still growing but an increasing number of properties for sale is holding back price inflation.
There’s also a North-South divide when it comes to how far people are willing to move. Analysis of 170,000 moves over the last 12 months by Reallymoving found people in the North East and North West moved a median distance of just 8 miles of the existing address. Of those moves, 40% took place within a 5 mile radius. Midlands movers took a similar approach, relocating within 10 miles.
Miles we’re prepared to move
Southern movers were more adventurous in the distances they travelled. East of England movers relocated a median distance of 17 miles, with 31% travelling more than 50 miles. Those in the South East and South West broadened their horizons too, moving a median distance of 14 miles and 15 miles, respectively.
Rent increases return
The rental picture is less clear cut. Although HomeLet’s latest rental report showed the UK’s average rent increased by 0.3% during the last reporting period, there are regional differences. The biggest monthly rental value gains were in the East Midlands (up 1.3%), the North East (up 1.2%) and Scotland (up 1%).
Conversely, rental values in Greater London, Yorkshire & the Humber and North West stayed the same as the previous month. Additionally, rents in the West Midlands crept up by just 0.1%, and they increased by 0.3% in the South East. HomeLet reports a new UK average monthly rent of £1,275.
The increases can be attributed to continuing tenant demand. Although Zoopla’s March Rental Report found there were 11% more rental homes available now, when compared to last year, 12 tenants are still applying for every property.
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