Half of UK homes taking longer to sell as regional divide widens

By contrast, 145 markets recorded improvements. North West Leicestershire, also in the East Midlands and under an hour from Melton, is among those that have sped up.

Zoopla attributed some of the slowdown to elevated mortgage rates relative to the start of the year, which it said had increased buying costs and encouraged a wait-and-see approach among prospective purchasers.

Westminster’s slower pace reflects higher house prices and elevated buying costs in the capital. Teignbridge’s position in the slowest markets is linked to higher council tax in second-home areas and greater supply choice for buyers. Outside Melton, the remainder of the top 10 slowest markets are in southern England, with North East Lincolnshire the first non-southern market, ranked 17th slowest.

Scotland dominates the fastest-selling end of the table. All 10 of the quickest markets are Scottish, with Falkirk leading at an average of 11 days. Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire follow at 13 days each. The first non-Scottish market does not appear until 20th place: Carlisle and Barnsley, both at 23 days. Zoopla noted that Scottish homes are typically marketed on an offers-over basis, with valuations and home surveys made available to buyers earlier in the process — factors that speed up transactions.

Regional analysis reveals a widening gap within individual regions between their fastest and slowest local markets. In Scotland, Aberdeenshire takes 45 days to sell on average — nearly five weeks longer than Falkirk. Zoopla linked reduced investment in North Sea oil and gas over the past decade to weaker housing demand around Aberdeen, while Falkirk benefits from connectivity to Scotland’s central belt economy. Six of the 11 regions analysed have gaps of four weeks or more between their fastest and slowest local markets. Wales has the tightest differential at three weeks.