House prices still on the up across Yorkshire

A lack of stock again drove property prices up last month in Yorkshire and Humberside, according to figures from a market survey.

Spring is usually the start of what is the busiest time for Yorkshire and Humber’s housing market, but according to the monthly RICS UK Residential Market Survey it failed to pick-up during May as stock levels failed to increase, resulting in buyer interest waning and prices increasing.

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During the month of May, agents in Yorkshire and Humber reported an average of 39 properties on their books (unchanged from April), which is close to an all-time low.

This resulted in interest from potential buyers declining, with just eight per cent of respondents reporting a rise in buyer enquiries last month (down from 12 per cent in April).

Looking at prices; the ongoing shortage of housing stock in the region edged prices higher in some areas last month with 19 per cent of respondents reporting a rise in house prices during May (up from eight per cent in April).

By way of contrast, house prices also rose in the Midlands, Wales, the North West, Northern Ireland and Scotland during May. But house prices fell in London, along with the wider South East, South West, and East Anglia.

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Looking ahead, respondents in Yorkshire and Humber are cautious about near term price and sales expectations with just five per cent expecting prices to rise further over the coming three months and three per cent anticipating sales transactions will rise over the next three months.

Turning to the lettings market, demand for rented properties (on a non-seasonally adjusted basis) declined last month with 14 per cent of respondents reporting a rise in tenant demand (down from 28 per cent the previous month), whilst 25 per cent also reported a fall in landlord instructions last month (new rental properties coming onto the market).

Kenneth Bird of Renton & Parr in Wetherby said: “We’re seeing an increasing number of new properties coming on to the market which is encouraging. However, the time taken from agreeing a sale to exchanging continues to cause problems.”

Alex Mcneil of Bramleys in Huddersfield said: “There continues to be a low volume of new sales instructions but demand levels from buyers remain sustainable. The private rental market also continues to be subject to sustainable demand. But there is a shortage of higher value and middle-market properties available for rental. Therefore, average tenancy terms continue to be extended.”

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Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist commented: “Although some agents in Yorkshire and Humber are suggesting that a little more supply may have come onto the market in May, some of it from the Buy to Let sector, overall inventory levels in the region still remain near historic lows. Indeed, with the run rate on appraisals continuing to track below the numbers of a year ago it is premature to conclude that a sustained upturn in available stock is imminent.

“Against this backdrop, it is likely that the headline picture regarding activity in the housing market will remain subdued for some months to come. This is reflected in the feedback to the latest survey which shows sales expectations only marginally positive on a one-year view.”