Find your best local estate agent Start here
August 27, 2020
3 minute read
Zoopla’s house price data from July suggests the housing market is at its strongest since 2015, driven by pent-up demand and a once-in-a-lifetime re-evaluation of what buyers want from a home in the wake of lockdown.
The bounce in activity has meant that homes are selling at a faster rate than before the pandemic across all regions of the UK.
At a UK level, homes are selling in 27 days (31% lower than the same 3-month period last year).
Homes are currently selling in less than a month across all regions and countries.
Three-bedroom houses remain the fastest selling property on the market, with an average time of 24 days since the lockdown lifted.
Changing buyer requirements – as households prioritise more space and widen their search criteria outside of the cities to find a home – has resulted in the time to sell 4 and 5 bed houses falling by over a third compared to last year. Four bed houses are now selling faster than the average flat.
Meanwhile, flats are taking the longest time to sell at an average 32 days – which is still quick by historic standards because of the level of activity.
It’s worth noting that Zoopla calculate the time to sell from the date first marketed to going under offer or ‘sold subject to contract’. Be aware that it can take a further 3 months for a sale to complete and the buyer to finally move in.
Zoopla’s monthly snapshot also suggested:
This news of market activity bodes well for buyers who are looking to take advantage of the stamp duty holiday, which will run until 31 March 2021.
For sellers, it’s worth noting that while house sales are reported as running 76% ahead of the 5-year average, not all homes are flying off the shelves.
Zoopla’s analysis only tells us about the homes that are selling. Even with strong market conditions it is important that serious sellers:
March 25, 2025 
