UK average house price reaches £271,000 as growth slows in May 2026

The UK House Price Index reported that the average house price in May 2026 was £271,000, a 2.7% rise over the previous year. The annual growth rate slowed from 3.9% in the year to April, reflecting a modest 0.3% monthly increase between April and May and virtually flat seasonally‑adjusted prices.

Analysts noted that the earlier surge was partly driven by a one‑off stamp‑duty rush following the April 2025 changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax in England and Northern Ireland. They emphasized that underlying market conditions remain flat, with supply constraints rather than demand limiting affordability. Mortgage director Jamie Alexander said the market is "much closer to flat" and that new builds have not kept pace with where people want to live.

Regional data for Lancashire showed an average price of £220,000, with stark variation—from £124,000 in Blackpool to £283,000 in the affluent Ribble Valley—illustrating how local markets differ across the UK.