While home prices have been steadily rising across the United Kingdom, there are still options. Here are the cheapest places to buy a house in the UK
Home prices across the UK have been steadily rising in recent years, with the average home price in 2022 at just under £300,000. However, there are options, especially if you are happy to live outside of London. Think: The North East of England, where home prices are significantly more affordable, and the region is full of historical significance and natural beauty.
This article will detail the cheapest places to buy a house in the UK. For the mortgage professionals who typically come to our site, this can be an excellent article to send along to any client with questions about affordable home prices.
Which are the cheapest places to buy a house in the UK?
While house prices are forecasted to drop across the UK, the average price for a property sits at £294,559, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). That figure remains out of reach for many home buyers, but there is good news: there are options for would-be home buyers. Let’s look at the cheapest places to buy a house in the UK:
- Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
- Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
- Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire
- Shildon, County Durham
- Peterlee, County Durham
- Stanley, County Durham
- Lancashire, North West England
- Liverpool, Merseyside
- Keighley, West Yorkshire
Let’s take a closer look to see how much you can expect to pay in each region, as well as what each centre has to offer.
1. Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
The average price of a home in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, is £54,978. Middlesorough has been called the cheapest place to live in the UK in 2022. Located on the River Tees, Middlesbrough is just a 20-minute drive from the coast, whether you are starting from the town centre or the countryside. Not only is Middlesbrough, postcode TS1, the cheapest place to buy a property in the UK, but nearby postcode TS3 is also highly affordable, with an average of price of £80,958.
2. Bradford, West Yorkshire
The only other place to purchase a property on this list for less than £60,000, on average, is Bradford, West Yorkshire. The average price of a home in Bradford, located in the foothills of the Pennines, is £58,673, making it especially appealing for first-time home buyers and renters. Besides the price, Bradford also offers aesthetically pleasing properties from the Victorian era.
3. Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
The average home price in Sunderland is £65,478, if you are in the SR1 postcode. This an especially good deal if you consider Sunderland’s busy city centre and beautiful coastline. Not only that, but Sunderland also offers many green outdoor spaces, a perk which is becoming increasingly popular among home buyers.
4. Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire
Homes in the DN31 postcode in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, average about £71,105. Grimsby’s DN32 postcode average just a little higher than No. 10 on this list, with average home prices there going for roughly £97,652. This port town’s history and charm only add to the appeal to home buyers.
5. Shildon, County Durham
At £73,637, Shildon in County Durham is one of the more affordable regions to purchase a property in the UK. In fact, County Durham features three times on this list of the cheapest places to buy a house in the UK. Shildon is an ideal spot for home buyers who are more interested in a quiet living, but still want access to the city of Middlesbrough, which is less than an hour’s drive away.
6. Peterlee, County Durham
Peterlee is the second community on this list located in County Durham. The average price of a property here in the SR8 postcode is roughly £85,274. Beyond the comparatively affordable home prices, Peterlee is also called Mexico City by its inhabitants, due to the colourful architecture there.
7. Stanley, County Durham
Rounding out the third most affordable spot in County Durham to purchase a property is Stanley, where the average price of a home is about £91,391. Stanley is a former coal mining town that a short drive to Newcastle, providing residents the opportunity to live quietly while remaining connected to the big city.
8. Lancashire, North West England
The average price of a home in Lancashire’s BB11 postcode in North West England is £91,516. Due to its proximity to Liverpool, Manchester, and Leeds, Lancashire is especially popular among commuters. Not only that, but its scenic location remains popular with locals and tourists alike, both because of its industrial and medieval heritage.
9. Liverpool, Merseyside
Two postcodes in Liverpool feature on the list of the cheapest places to buy a house in the UK: the L20 and L5. The average price of homes in these areas is £91,793. Home to Liverpool Football Club and the birthplace of The Beatles, Liverpool is also diverse and famed for its culture and history. The housing market in certain parts of the city remain white hot, but with a little digging you can find home prices below the national average.
10. Keighley, West Yorkshire
The average property price in the BD21 postcode Keighly, West Yorkshire, sits at £91,833, making it an especially attractive area for first-time home buyers. Keighley is situated in the City of Bradford, which offers beautiful scenery in the English countryside as well as a restored steam railway. Its affordability and beauty make Keighley a great bet for buyers.
What city is the cheapest to buy a house in the UK?
The cheapest city to buy a house in the UK is in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, specifically in the TS1 postcode, where the average price of a home is just under £55,000. In Middlesbrough’s TS3 postcode, you will also find another one of the more affordable areas in the UK. The average home price there is just over £80,000.
Where is the nicest cheapest place to live in the UK?
Not far from Middlesbrough, you will find another affordable place to purchase a property in the UK: Durham. The average price of a property in Durham is roughly £130,000, which is a 2.8% increase from the month prior (July 2022), when the average price of a home was £126,808.
Situated in northeast England, south of Newcastle upon Tyne, Durham is named after the River Wear that runs past Durham Cathedral and Norman Castle. Crook Hall, located north of the castle, is a 13-century building that is home to lush gardens and a beautiful maze. Durham University, which offers amazing views of woodland and tropical plants in their Botanic Garden, lies south of the river. There are also Middle Eastern, Egyptian, and Asian artifacts on display in the University’s Oriental Museum.
Cheapest place to rent for students
Durham is not only one of the cheapest places to buy a house in the UK, but it is also a highly popular place to rent, which is especially beneficial to students. Durham’s cost of living is manageable to students who are attending many of the good law schools and universities in the region.
For a 1BHK apartment, the average rent in County Durham is £650 per month. Outside the city, the rent gets much more reasonable, £360 per month. Basic utilities will cost you about £235 per month, while a monthly travel pass costs £55.
Where is best to buy a house in the UK?
The best county to buy a house in the UK is Cumbria, according to a 2022 study conducted by Glint. Regionally, the North East was found to be the best part of England to purchase a property in. The study took into consideration more than the average price of homes in each area; house price per square foot and other lifestyle factors were also considered.
Weighing home price per square foot against the average salary of a region, life satisfaction, and the crime rates were added together to make a House Buying Score of up to 100 points. Cumbria scored the highest with 71/100 as the best county to purchase a home in, based on the average price per square foot, life satisfaction, crime rate, and average salary. At the other end of the spectrum, Kent ranked as the worst with a score of 22/100.
The North East was found to be the best region of England to buy a home in, while London ranked as the worst, with a score of 24/100. The South East ranked as the second worst with an average score of 35/100.
Scotland: Cheapest places to buy a house in the UK
In Scotland, Falkirk was the best council area to purchase a property in, scoring 71/100. Edinburgh, on the other hand, scored the worst with an average score of 31/100. The least expensive areas in terms of house price per square footage was in South Western Scotland.
Wales: Cheapest places to buy a house in the UK
In Wales, Dyfed scored an 89/100 to come out as the best county in the country to buy a home in. South Glamorgan, meanwhile, scored a 23/100 to finish as the worst place to buy a home.
Northern Ireland: Cheapest places to buy a house in the UK
In Northern Ireland, Fermanagh and Omagh scored an average of 83/100 to become the best area overall to buy a home in. Ards and North Down were rated the worst.
The average home in the UK costs £294,559. While that number remains out of reach for many, the good news for would-be home buyers is that there are options—if you know where to look. Places like Middlesbrough, Durham, and the North East as a whole remain viable options. If you are a first-time home buyer, you may want to steer clear of London and Kent.
Before committing yourself to purchasing a home in the UK, do your research, such as checking in on what the best mortgage lenders in your area can do for you.
Have experience shopping for the cheapest places to buy a house in the UK? Let us know in the comment section below.
