Auction sales in England have climbed by 8.9% over the past 12 months, according to analysis by specialist lender Octane Capital.
An estimated 23,967 properties were sold at auction between Q2 2024 and Q1 2025, up from 22,007 the year before.
The North East recorded the strongest growth with sales rising 14.8% year on year, followed by London at 14.7%.
The East Midlands and South West also posted notable increases of 12.6% and 10.6% respectively.
Rising demand has pushed up average auction prices, which are up 4.2% nationally to £177,471.
The North West led the way with an 11.5% increase, ahead of London at 11% and Yorkshire and the Humber at 10.1%.
Auction transactions typically require completion within 28 days, a timeframe that can prove challenging for high street lenders, particularly where properties need significant refurbishment or fall outside standard lending criteria.
Octane Capital’s analysis shows that auction purchases now account for 13% of bridging loan market activity, highlighting the growing role of short-term finance.
Jonathan Samuels, chief executive of Octane Capital, said: “Whilst the property landscape is certainly improving, we’ve seen buyers continue to act with caution as mortgage rates have remained higher than many have become accustomed to.
“This has resulted in many sellers and investors struggling to offload their properties at either the price or pace that is required.
“As a result, many have turned to the auction space in order to push on with their plans for the year and the ability to transact quickly is a major draw in this respect.
“However, speed is only part of the equation, auctions often present properties that need significant work, or which fall outside the criteria of traditional mortgage lenders.
“This is where bridging finance really comes into its own, giving buyers the certainty and flexibility to secure opportunities that others can’t.
“We expect this reliance on bridging for auction purchases to grow further as investors continue to seek value in a challenging market.”
