The UK Property Guide: five cities, one picture
A free guide to house prices, rents, mortgage costs and the tax on buying in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and Edinburgh. It is written for homebuyers, home movers and landlords comparing where to buy or invest.
- The national backdrop: Bank Rate, mortgage rate averages, activity
- House prices and rents in each of the five cities
- The tax on buying in England, Wales and Scotland
What does the guide cover, and who is it for?
The national market is quiet, but the five cities are moving at very different speeds. We have gathered the latest official figures from the ONS, HM Land Registry and the Bank of England, plus the main lender indices, so you can compare them side by side.
It is general information and not advice. Past trends are not a guide to the future.
Mortgage rate averages have risen too. Moneyfacts’ average two-year fix was 5.97% and five-year fix 6.00% in early November 2026, up from 5.59% and 5.63% in early September. These are market averages, subject to criteria, and not an offer.
The five cities at a glance
| City | Average price | Annual change | Average rent per month | Annual change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £554,430 | −2.2% | £2,338 | +3.5% |
| Birmingham | £234,867 | +1.5% | £1,106 | +3.3% |
| Manchester | £256,760 | +2.1% | £1,380 | +4.6% |
| Cardiff | £272,443 | +2.1% | £1,179 | +3.2% |
| Edinburgh | £301,313 | +2.8% | £1,411 * | +1.0% |
House prices: ONS and HM Land Registry UK House Price Index, August 2026 (provisional). Rents: ONS Price Index of Private Rents, September 2026 (provisional). * Edinburgh rent is the ONS figure for the wider Lothian area, as the ONS does not publish a city only figure.
What stands out
- Prices are split by geography. London is the only one of the five with a lower average price than a year earlier (−2.2%). Edinburgh (+2.8%), Manchester (+2.1%), Cardiff (+2.1%) and Birmingham (+1.5%) are higher.
- Flats are the soft spot. London flats are down 5.0% on the year, against detached homes up 1.8%.
- Rents are still rising, but more slowly. Manchester recorded the fastest rent growth of the five (+4.6%).
- The tax on buying differs by nation. England uses Stamp Duty Land Tax, Wales uses Land Transaction Tax and Scotland uses Land and Buildings Transaction Tax. Try our stamp duty calculator for England.
Download the guide and the city snapshots
The full 13 page guide (PDF) covers all five cities, the national backdrop, rents, buying costs and the sources.
Thinking about buying or investing in one of these cities?
Speak to a CeMAP-qualified OMB adviser: whole-of-market advice, with any fee confirmed in writing before you proceed. See our mortgage services.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Most buy-to-let mortgages are not regulated by the FCA. Our Mortgage Broker Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 944663). There may be a fee for mortgage advice: we may charge up to 1% of the loan amount, and our typical fee is £500. This guide is general information only and is not personal advice. Figures are correct as at 11 November 2026 and may be revised.