Land Registry publishes UK House Price Index for September 2025

The UK House Price Index for September 2025, has been published by HM Land Registry on 19 November 2025.

It shows that on average house prices across the UK fell by 0.6 percent since August 2025.

Despite this monthly decline, there has been an annual price rise of 2.6 percent, bringing the average property value in the UK to £272,000.

In England, house prices fell by 0.8 percent since August 2025, while the annual rise of 2 percent takes the average property value to £293,000. Regional data highlights that Yorkshire and the Humber was the only area to see a monthly increase, with prices rising by 0.3 percent, and it also recorded the strongest annual growth at 4.5 percent.

The South East and the North East experienced the largest monthly falls, both down by 1.2 percent. London was the only region not to record an annual rise, with prices falling by 1.8 percent.

For more information see: UK House Price Index for September 2025.

If you require legal guidance or conveyancing services across England and Wales, please contact our UKRE Team: Anna Douglass, Alastair Hargreaves, Caren Vidamour, and Hannah Damant. We are here to assist.

The UK Government has confirmed that the first phase of tenancy reforms under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 will take effect on 1 May 2026. This milestone represents the most significant shift in tenancy law in a generation. From this date, all existing and new private tenancies in England will transition to the new system.

With a firm date now announced, agents, landlords, and tenants can begin making practical preparations for the changes ahead.

The reforms will be introduced through a staged three phases rollout, beginning with tenancy reform in Phase One.

Key changes include:

• Transition to periodic tenancies
• Limits on rent in advance
• A ban on rental bidding
• Clearer rules on rent increases via Section 13 notices
• Strengthened anti-discrimination measures
• New rights for tenants regarding pets

This first phase sets the foundation for a more transparent, fair, and balanced rental market.

What happens next?

From 1 May 2026:

• All existing assured shorthold tenancies will automatically convert to the new tenancy system.
• All new tenancies signed on or after this date will follow the updated rules, including the cap on rent in advance and the revised processes for rent increases and pets.

This change represents a sector-wide reset. Agents should now begin reviewing processes, updating documentation, and preparing communications to guide both landlords and tenants through the transition.

Section 21 Notices

Importantly, Section 21 will not disappear but will be phased out i.e. any Section 21 notice served before 1 May 2026 will still remain valid until it expires (six months from service) or until the tenant vacates.

This transitional measure provides an operational buffer and avoids a last-minute surge in possession proceedings.

Written statements and tenancy documentation

The Act requires that all new tenancies include a written tenancy agreement containing specific information to be set out in secondary legislation.

Landlords will not need to re-issue existing agreements. Instead, they must provide tenants with a Government-produced information sheet explaining how the reforms affect their tenancy.

Where no written agreement currently exists (for example, verbal agreements or protected tenancies under the Rent Act), landlords will need to provide tenants with a written document covering the required information.

Further details on the information sheet will be published once agreed with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Next phases:

The reforms will continue in subsequent phases:

• Phase Two (late 2026): Establishment of the Landlord Ombudsman and launch of the PRS Database.
• Phase Three (consultation expected 2035–2037): Introduction of the Decent Homes Standard and implementation of Awaab’s Law.

Key Takeaway for Landlords

The Renters’ Rights Act reforms represent a fundamental reset of the private rented sector. With the implementation date now confirmed, preparation is essential. Reviewing tenancy processes, updating documentation, and maintaining clear communication by the letting agents / landlords with the tenants will be critical to ensuring a smooth transition.

For more information click here.

Contact Our UKRE Team

If you require further information or legal advice, including conveyancing services in England & Wales, please contact our dedicated UKRE team: Anna Douglass, Alastair Hargreaves, Caren Vidamour, and Hannah Damant. We’re here to help.

The UK housing market continues to show steady growth, according to the latest House Price Index released by HM Land Registry for August 2025.

Across the UK, average house prices rose by 0.8% compared to July, with an annual increase of 3%. This brings the average property value to £273,000. While this reflects a slight slowdown from the revised 3.2% annual rise recorded in July, the market remains resilient.

In England, prices climbed 0.9% month-on-month and 2.9% year-on-year, with the average property now valued at £296,000. The North West led the monthly growth with a 1.6% increase, while London saw the smallest rise at just 0.1%. Over the year, the North East experienced the strongest growth at 6.6%, whereas London recorded a slight annual decline of 0.3%.

London’s property market continues to show signs of cooling. The average house price rose marginally by 0.1% since July, but fell by 0.3% compared to August 2024, placing the average property value at £566,000.

In Wales, house prices increased by 1% over the month and 2% annually, bringing the average property value to £211,000. Notably, there were eight repossession sales recorded in April 2025.

Overall, UK house prices rose by 3% in the year to August 2025, slightly down from the previous month’s revised figure. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, prices increased by 0.8% between July and August, compared with a 1% rise during the same period last year.

For full details, you can view the official report here.

If you require further information or legal advice, including conveyancing services in England & Wales, please contact our dedicated UKRE team: Anna Douglass, Alastair Hargreaves, Caren Vidamour, and Hannah Damant.

The latest UK House Price Index (HPI) for July 2025 provides insight into property value changes across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

National Overview

In July 2025, average UK house prices increased by 0.3% compared to June 2025. Over the past year, prices rose by 2.8%, bringing the average property value to £270,000.

England

In England, house prices rose by 0.3% month-on-month. The annual increase of 2.7% places the average property value at £292,000.

• The South West recorded the highest monthly increase at 1.4%.
• The South East experienced the largest monthly decline, down by 0.4%.
• The North East saw the strongest annual growth, rising by 7.9%.
• London had the lowest annual increase at 0.7%.

London

London property prices remained unchanged since May 2025. The annual increase of 0.7% brings the average property value to £562,000.

Wales

House prices in Wales fell by 0.4% since June 2025. However, the annual increase of 2% brings the average property value to £209,000.

UK-Wide Trends

UK house prices rose by 2.8% in the year to July 2025. This is a decrease from the revised annual growth of 3.6% reported in June 2025. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, prices increased by 0.3% between June and July 2025, compared to a 1.1% rise during the same period last year.

For full details, please refer to: UK House Price Index for July 2025 – GOV.UK

If you require legal guidance or conveyancing services across England & Wales, please contact our UKRE Team: Anna Douglass, Alastair Hargreaves, Caren Vidamour, and Hannah Damant. We are here to assist.

On 15 July 2025, The Law Commission has released a consultation paper proposing a long-awaited reform to chancel repair liability, a historic legal obligation that can require landowners to contribute to the cost of repairing the chancel of their local parish church. Under the proposed changes, this liability would only affect purchasers of registered land if it is formally recorded on the property’s title.

This move aims to bring greater transparency and certainty to property transactions across England and Wales.

Historical Context

Chancel repair liability dates back to medieval times, when certain landowners were responsible for maintaining the chancel of their parish church. These obligations were originally tied to rectorial land and persisted through the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII.

Though ancient, the liability remains enforceable today and has caused significant concern among property owners, particularly in rural areas.

The Wallbank Case: A Turning Point

In 2003, the House of Lords ruled in Aston Cantlow Parochial Church Council v Wallbank that the Wallbanks were liable for nearly £187,000 in chancel repair costs, plus legal fees. The case shocked the property sector and led to the widespread use of chancel repair insurance to protect buyers from unexpected claims.

Law Commission’s 2025 Proposals

The consultation paper recommends:

• Chancel repair liability should only bind purchasers of registered land if the liability is registered against the title
• For unregistered land, liability must be protected by a caution against first registration
• If not registered, the liability will cease upon first registration
• The reforms aim to reduce conveyancing costs and improve legal certainty for buyers

The consultation is open until 15 November 2025, with final recommendations expected in 2026.

The UK Real Estate Team at F&F LLP continues to support clients with all aspects of property law and conveyancing across England. For tailored legal advice, please contact: Anna Douglass, Alastair Hargreaves, Caren Vidamour, or Hannah Damant.

HM Land Registry has updated Practice Guide 6, which outlines the process following the death of a joint, sole, or last surviving proprietor of a registered estate, charge, or mortgage.

Key Change Section 6 has been amended to reflect HM Land Registry’s revised approach to first registrations. Previously, applications were completed with a protective entry and an accompanying letter if no other requisitions were raised. HM Land Registry will now request evidence to determine whether a register entry for inheritance tax is required.

Further guidance from HM Land Registry can be found here.

The UK Real Estate Team at F&F LLP continues to support clients with all aspects of property law and conveyancing across England. For tailored legal advice, please contact Anna Douglass, Alastair Hargreaves, Caren Vidamour, or Hannah Damant directly.

HM Land Registry has released its latest figures for May 2025, offering a clear view of continued upward momentum across the UK property market.

The average price of a UK home now stands at £269,000, representing a £10,000 increase compared with May last year. The market experienced an annual price growth of 3.9% and a monthly change of 1.1%, reflecting steady progress as we move deeper into the year.

Regionally, England saw its average property value rise to £290,000, an increase of 3.4%, while Wales recorded a stronger performance with prices climbing to £210,000, a 5.1% annual uplift. Among the English regions, the North East stands out with the highest annual growth rate of 6.3%, suggesting renewed confidence in that part of the country. In contrast, the South West saw the most modest increase, with prices rising by just 1.9%.

These figures serve as a valuable indicator of current market conditions and provide context for valuation assessments, lending decisions, and strategic planning.

The UKRE Team at F&F LLP continues to support clients with all aspects of property law and conveyancing across England. For tailored legal advice, please contact Anna Douglass, Alastair Hargreaves, Caren Vidamour, or Hannah Damant directly.

For more details, refer to the official release here.

Halifax has today released its regular review of the UK housing market.

In summary, house prices are flat with growth recorded at 0.0% for June 2025.

The average UK house price is £296,665, and which Halifax states is 2.5% higher than this time last year.

The general consensus is that there is likely to be two more interest rate cuts by the end of 2025, helping buyer confidence, combined with greater mortgage flexibility.

There is some economic uncertainty at the present time, and fiscal levers to ameliorate this would assist.

We in the UK Real Estate team at Ferbrache & Farrell LLP watch such trends with interest, so we can always act in the best interests of our clients.

We remain on hand to support clients with all UK residential property legal matters, including conveyancing in England.

For tailored advice, please contact Anna Douglass, Alastair Hargreaves, Caren Vidamour or Hannah Damant.