Flats were the hardest type of property to sell in the UK, spending 58% longer on the market than terraced and semi-detached houses, research from Sell House Fast has found.
On average, terraced houses took 86 days to sell, with semi-detached homes at 87 days.
Detached properties were on the market for 130 days, while flats took 136 days.
Terraced houses were the quickest to sell, usually finding a buyer in under three months.
Flats stayed on the market for over 19 weeks.
Flats also topped the list for the hardest features to sell, while terraced houses were the easiest.
Properties priced between £200,000 and £300,000 sold fastest, averaging 98 days.
Homes over £1m took the longest at 170 days.
Three-bedroom houses were quickest to sell at 91 days, while five-bedroom homes took around 140 days due to lower demand.
Jack Malncik, managing director at Sell House Fast, said: “Flats have become increasingly difficult to sell in today’s market for a combination of structural, financial, and lifestyle-related reasons. One of the biggest ongoing issues is cladding.
“Thousands of flat owners have found themselves trapped in properties with unresolved fire safety issues, often facing high remediation costs and insurance premiums.
“Even where cladding has been addressed, many buyers remain cautious or struggle to secure a mortgage without a valid EWS1 form.”
Malncik added: “Beyond safety concerns, the pandemic significantly shifted buyer priorities. Many people now place a premium on space—both inside and out—and are willing to move further from urban centres to get it.
“With remote and hybrid working now mainstream, the traditional appeal of city-centre flats close to transport links has weakened.
“Additionally, ground rent scandals, high service charges, leasehold complexities, and a general oversupply of flats in some urban areas have all contributed to cooling buyer appetite.”
He said: “In contrast, houses—especially those with gardens and flexible layouts—are seeing much stronger demand.”
