Rightmove: Although the increase is less than usual for October, asking prices do increase by 03 percent

As the property market prepares for next month's Budget, asking prices increased by an average of £1,165 in October, according to Rightmove However, the increase is significantly less than the typical autumn bump

According to the most recent house price index, the average asking price for a UK property going up for sale in October is 371,422, which is 1,165 (0.3%) more than the average for September.

Although sellers will appreciate a monthly increase in asking prices, Rightmove's recent research shows that this year's increase is significantly less than what is normal for October.

2025's boost seems insignificant in comparison to the ten-year average of 11% month-over-month asking price increases from September to October.

In addition, a below-normal October asking price increase has not increased year-over-year asking price growth for 2025; as a result, asking prices are 0.1 percent lower this year than they were at the same time in 2024.

A notable disparity between asking price growth in the rest of the UK, where each region has experienced annual asking price growth of at least 1 percent, and London and the south of England, where prices have been declining, has been the primary cause of the annual decline.

With homes in the south of England finding it difficult to keep up with the average price growth in the north, the Midlands, and devolved nations, the new data highlights the growing regional divide in the UK housing market.

According to Rightmove, a number of headwinds that disproportionately impact properties in the south are partly to blame for this.

While buyers have a lot more options, southerners are especially impacted by higher stamp duty rates because properties there are typically more expensive than those elsewhere.

Furthermore, speculation about what might be included in the budget has not helped, as some sellers have braced for higher expenses due to rumors of possible increases in some property taxes.

Even though asking prices grew less than usual in October, the real estate market has held up well so far this year in spite of the difficulties it has encountered.

When compared to the same period in 2024, Rightmove reports that demand for new buyers has increased by 2% so far this year, while both the number of agreed sales and the number of new sellers have increased by 5%.

Even though the 2025 housing market is resilient overall, Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, stated: "We don't have enough pent-up momentum or recent positive sentiment to spur the typical autumn bounce in property prices.

Due to the decade-high number of available properties, sellers who are serious about selling have had to moderate their price expectations and admit that they have little pricing power.

Furthermore, there are rumors that the Budget might raise the price of purchasing or owning a property at the higher end of the market. This has caused some movers, especially those in the south of England, to hold off until the Budget is announced.

On the possible disruptions caused by the Budget, Marc von Grundherr, director of London estate agency Benham and Reeves, agrees with Babcock: "A lot of the current hesitation can also be attributed to the upcoming Autumn Budget, with many buyers preferring to wait for clarity on taxation and wider economic policy before acting." After this uncertainty subsides, we anticipate that the market will pick up speed.

In which areas have asking prices risen the most?

London had the largest month-over-month increase in asking prices in the UK, with prices rising by 0.5 percent since September to an average asking price of 685,497.

Nevertheless, London also records the lowest annual change of -1.14 percent, highlighting the volatility of asking prices in the capital of the United Kingdom.

Scotland had the second-highest month-over-month increase in asking prices, having seen a 0.7 percent increase since September and a 1.3 percent increase all year. These days, the average property there is valued at £200,457.

October saw significant growth in the West Midlands as well, with prices rising 0.6 percent for the month and 1 percent for the year, resulting in an average asking price of 295,474.

In the East of England, the average asking price was 420,254, up 0.3 percent for the month but down 0.6 percent for the year.

Wales has experienced the third-highest annual growth of 1.8 percent, despite more muted monthly growth of 0.1 percent. The nation's average asking price is £267,838.

In October, asking prices in the North East and South East remained unchanged, but prices are up 1 percent to 194,822 and down 0 percent to 479,992 for the year, respectively.

In the meantime, the other UK regions have experienced price contractions. Prices in the South West fell 0.6 percent for the month and 1.0 percent for the year, to 479,992.

The average asking price in the East Midlands is 289,928. Prices there are also down 0.6 percent on the month but up 11.1 percent on the year.

The North West also has a monthly decline but an annual increase, with prices falling 0.9 percent on the month but rising 10.9 percent on the year, making it the joint-highest in the nation. The average asking price for a property there is £267,902.

Last but not least, Yorkshire and the Humber experienced the lowest asking price growth of the month, with prices declining 11% since September. Nevertheless, the region's average asking prices have increased to 255,830 due to robust annual growth of 1 point 90 percent, which is the joint-highest.

November 2025, Rightmove.