General election not likely to dent house prices

General election not likely to dent house prices

0:01 AM, 29th May 2024, About a month ago

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The general election will not hurt house prices in the long term, according to a new study.

The research from eXp UK, the platform for personal estate agents, reveals house prices climbed by an average of 5.4% in post-election years.

Mr Sunak announced a snap general election which will take place on Thursday 4th July.

Home sellers have little to worry about

eXp UK analysed the annual rate of house price growth in the year following the last 10 general elections stretching back to 1983, adjusting for inflation to give a clear view of market performance.

The research shows that home sellers have little to worry about when it comes to an election-induced house price slump, with the average house price increasing by a respectable 5.4% on average following a general election.

The study reveals house prices have increased in the year following every general election since 1983 with the exception of two, 1992 and 2010, when the market was still in recovery during these periods after the early 1990s recession.

The highest rate of inflation adjusted house price growth followed the general election of 1987, when Margaret Thatcher won her third term as PM.

In contrast, the lowest rate of positive house price growth following an election came after Theresa May’s election in June 2017.

Political uncertainty can be poisonous for the property market

Head of eXp UK, Adam Day, said: “Political uncertainty can be poisonous for the property market and we saw how years of back and forth over Brexit slowly put the market into a state of deep freeze.

“However, a general election is unlikely to have the same impact and is often viewed by many as a time of opportunity and change, with historic figures showing that the housing market marches on regardless in the year that follows.

“While we may see some buyers choose to sit tight in hopes of further housing market incentives, the upcoming election is unlikely to dent the positive momentum that has been building in recent weeks.”

Market likely to stand firm

The analysis by eXp UK shows that whichever party takes power this time around, the market is likely to stand firm.

Following the election of a Conservative PM over the last 10 elections, house prices have climbed by 4.6% on average, whilst this growth climbs to 10.9% in years following the election of a Labour PM.


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