Brexit drives sharp regional divide in house prices

Ten years on from the Brexit referendum, house prices across the UK show a stark regional divide, according to new research.

Data from Yopa reveals that although average UK house prices have risen by 37.7% since June 2016, growth has been far from evenly distributed, with many traditionally more affordable markets outperforming southern England over the past decade.

The analysis compares average house price data from June 2016, the month of the Brexit referendum, with April 2026 figures.

Average house prices have increased

According to the data, the average house price has increased from £196,106 at the time of the Brexit vote to £270,080 in 2026, a rise of £73,974.

However, the strongest growth has been concentrated outside southern England. Northern Ireland has led the way, with average house prices increasing by £81,378, or 69.8%, over the last decade. Wales ranks second among the home nations, with values up by 53.2% (£73,825), while Scotland has seen prices climb by 42.2% (£56,978)

Within England, the strongest regional growth has come from the North West, where average house prices have increased by 56.7%. The West Midlands has seen growth of 48.1%, followed by the East Midlands at 47.5% and Yorkshire and the Humber at 47%.

London has seen by far the weakest regional performance since the referendum, with average house prices increasing by just £51,508, or 10.3%.

Many buyers have looked beyond London

Verona Frankish, CEO of Yopa, said the data shows buyers are turning to more affordable locations.

She said: “While the Brexit referendum was one of the most significant political events in modern British history, the decade since has demonstrated that local market fundamentals remain the biggest driver of house price performance.

“What stands out most from this analysis is how much of the strongest growth has come from areas outside the traditional southern hotspots.

“Many buyers have looked beyond London and the South East in search of greater affordability, more space and better value for money, helping drive stronger price growth across Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and large parts of northern and central England.

“At the same time, the data highlights just how localised the property market remains. While some areas have seen house prices more than double over the last decade, others have experienced far more modest growth or even declines. It’s a reminder that national trends only ever tell part of the story.”

House prices fall in some areas

The data also reveals that a small number of local authority areas have seen house prices fall over the last decade.

The largest decline has been recorded in the City of Aberdeen, where average house prices have fallen by -33.7%. The City of London has seen values fall by -31.7%, while the City of Westminster has recorded a decline of -24.7%.

Hammersmith & Fulham has recorded a decline of -8%, followed by Kensington and Chelsea (-5.6%), Tower Hamlets (-5.2%), Aberdeenshire (-4.6%), Wandsworth (-4.1%) and Southwark (-1.6%).