Dartford, Redditch, Test Valley and Gloucester are the fastest moving property markets in the UK, according to Zoopla.
The property portal found that homes listed for sale in these areas take just 14 days to sell.
On a regional basis, the South West and the West Midlands have the fastest moving housing markets in 2022.
But the stories behind the fast sales are different across the country. Where a seller lives, the type of property and the price of their home will all obviously impact how quickly it sells.
| Local authority | Region | Time on the market (full days) |
|---|---|---|
| Dartford | South East | 14 |
| Redditch | West Midlands | 14 |
| Test Valley | South East | 14 |
| Gloucester | South West | 14 |
| Bristol | South West | 15 |
| Wigan | North West | 15 |
| Rugby | West Midlands | 15 |
| South Gloucestershire | South West | 15 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | West Midlands | 15 |
| Trafford | North West | 16 |
| Basingstoke and Deane | South East | 16 |
| Bexley | London | 16 |
| Knowsley | North West | 16 |
| Wellingborough | East Midlands | 16 |
| Nuneaton and Bedworth | West Midlands | 16 |
| Worcester | West Midlands | 17 |
| Neath Port Talbot | Wales | 17 |
| Swindon | South West | 17 |
| Stafford | West Midlands | 17 |
| Plymouth | South West | 17 |
| Walsall | West Midlands | 17 |
| Harlow | East of England | 17 |
| North Kesteven | East Midlands | 17 |
| Liverpool | North West | 17 |
| St Edmundsbury | East of England | 17 |
| Bridgend | Wales | 17 |
| Waltham Forest | London | 17 |
| Exeter | South West | 17 |
| York | Yorkshire and The Humber | 17 |
What’s happening in the hottest housing markets?
Zoopla’s Ellie Issac walks us through the areas that are currently burning brightest.
Dartford, Kent
While several other commuter markets have slowed down since last year, Dartford’s kept its place as one of the fastest selling areas.
With house prices still affordable and good commutes into London, buyers in Dartford are having to move quickly to land the home they want.
Two bedroom terraced homes are selling the fastest in Dartford. In terms of price bracket, a property will sell the fastest if it is priced between £250k and £300k.
This is the cheaper end of the market, with average house prices in Dartford at £344,500 in May 2022. This size and price signals that first-time buyers are driving the fast-paced market in Dartford.
Redditch, Worcestershire
Homeowners in this West Midlands area have seen a dramatic improvement in how quick they’ll sell this year.
It’s dropped to 14 days, putting it at the top of the list.
In 2021, Redditch was the second fastest moving market. But it took much longer to sell a home, at an average of 27 days.
In terms of property type and pricing, owners of three bedroom terraced properties in Redditch are getting the fastest sales.
And homeowners will sell their home the fastest if it’s priced between £200k and £250k.
Test Valley, Hampshire
Test Valley in Hampshire is another place where it takes only 14 days to sell.
But the fastest selling homes here are more expensive than other hot markets. Homes between £350k and £400k sell the quickest in this part of Hampshire.
Although this range is more expensive than other areas on the list, it aligns with the average local property price of £365,000 in May 2022.
There’s high demand for family homes and space in Test Valley. That’s shown in three bedroom semi-detached homes selling the fastest.
Gloucester
Like several areas in the South West, Gloucester is seeing very fast sales this year.
In particular, three bedroom semi detached homes are flying off the shelf. In terms of price, those between £250k and £300k are the fastest to sell.
This price range is lower than the average house price in the area, which was £222,400 in May 2022.
In Bristol, Plymouth, Exeter, or Swindon, sales go through almost as quickly. They all make it into the top 20 fastest moving markets.
How has the UK market changed in the last year?
Issac said: “What’s really noticeable this year is the fast pace of urban markets in the South West. They feature much more prominently than last year.
“If you live in or around Bristol, Plymouth, Exeter, Gloucester or Swindon, you’re likely to sell within 14 to 17 days.
“Two and three bedroom terraced homes are selling the fastest in South West cities.Â
“The only exception is Bristol, where you’ll sell fastest if you have a three bedroom semi-detached house.
“It’s a similar picture in the West Midlands, too. Redditch, Rugby, Stoke-on-Trent, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Worcester and Stafford are all in the top 20 hottest markets.
“There’s still a fast pace within city markets, which is a trend we saw last year and previously. Around 12 of the 29 fastest markets featured before the pandemic.
“But we’re seeing a shift away from the pandemic-led choices of buyers in 2021. Back then, lots of us were looking for coastal areas and commuter towns. But they no longer feature as much in the fastest markets.”
