Top 10 areas where UK house prices are set to rise fastest in 2026
Online property platform Zoopla has revealed its expectations for property price rises in 2026 and where prices are set to increase the most.
According to Zoopla’s predictions, house prices are set to increase by 1.5% in 2026, with the best prospects for house price growth and sales being in Scotland and Northern England.
Nine out of ten of the areas expected to see the most price growth this year are in Scotland, with Motherwell leading the way.
It expects that the divide between the north and south of the UK will become more entrenched, with house prices underperforming in areas where prices are already high and affordability is relatively constrained.
These areas include London and Southern England, which are set to see lower price growth. House prices are already posting single-digit declines across southern England due to the impact of higher mortgage rates and higher property taxes.
Markets in Southern England and London have also seen a greater increase in homes for sale, boosting buyer choice, and with higher stamp duty costs since April 2025, all of which Zoopla said factor into the decline in average house prices over the last year.
Zoopla ranked the markets with the highest expected growth by collating and comparing factors including the affordability of homes, how quickly homes are selling, how much asking prices are being cut to attract demand and how many homes have been on the market for more than six months.
Overall, Zoopla said this year’s edition of these rankings was a good predictor of price inflation over the year, and the same pattern of growth is expected in 2026.
Below are the top ten postal areas in the UK where house prices are expected to increase the most in 2026.
| Rank | Postal Area | Region | Average Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motherwell | Scotland | £134,700 |
| 2 | Glasgow | Scotland | £163,600 |
| 3 | Paisley | Scotland | £139,500 |
| 4 | Falkirk | Scotland | £170,600 |
| 5 | Kirkcaldy | Scotland | £171,400 |
| 6 | Edinburgh | Scotland | £251,500 |
| 7 | Kilmarnock | Scotland | £126,200 |
| 8 | Perth | Scotland | £206,200 |
| 9 | Inverness | Scotland | £207,100 |
| 10 | Wigan | North West | £175,800 |
“While prospects are strongest in Scotland and Northern England, opportunities exist across the UK where demand and affordability remain well aligned,” said Zoopla executive director Richard Donnell.
“Price growth is expected to be slower in lower-ranked markets, particularly across parts of Southern England and London, although improving affordability means the outlook in London is more positive than in recent years.”
