Taylor Scott International News
Average house prices have increased by more than the average employees net earnings in more than a quarter of local authority districts across the UK, according to new research. The number of areas where house prices are outpacing earnings over the last two years has increased significantly over the past 12 months from 73 or 19% out of 384 to 108 of 28% out of 380. The Halifax research also shows that the vast majority of these areas are in London, the south east, and east of England with these three regions representing 97 or 90% of the 108, with the biggest gap between rising property values and earnings in Three Rivers in Hertfordshire, where house prices increased by an average of £147,990 over the last two years, exceeding average take home earnings in the area by £97,992. Seven London boroughs appear in the top 10 districts while the top performers outside southern England were Warwick in the West Midlands and South Northamptonshire in the East Midlands, with house price gains in excess of earnings of £24,723 and £14,837 respectively during 2014 and 2015. ‘The housing market recovery over the last few years has led to substantial price rises in some areas of the country, particularly in London, the south east and the east of England. This has resulted in homes increasing in value by more than total take-home earnings for the average home owner in many areas of the country,’ said Martin Ellis, housing economist at the Halifax. ‘Clearly, this is good news for some home owners. However, it does make conditions tougher for those looking to buy their first home in such areas, with prices being pushed increasingly out of range for many young people,’ he added. Over the past five years, 35 local areas in the UK or 9% of the total have seen average house prices increase by more than total average pay, up from 23 districts or 6% in 2015. The biggest differential was in Hammersmith and Fulham, where average property prices have increased by £248,971, surpassing average take home pay during the period by £108,653. The top 10 performers are all in London. All 35 areas are in London, the South East and the East. Over the past decade, house prices have increased by more than total pay in four areas across the UK led by Brent up £11,760, Haringey up £8,255, Hammersmith and Fulham up £4,438 and Cambridge up £1,767. Taylor Scott International
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