0:01 AM, 1st October 2019, About 5 years ago 6
Text Size
– The average UK property price has risen 43% since 2008, while wages have increased by just 15% over the same period
– If wages had increased at the same rate as house prices over the past 10 years, the average annual UK salary would now be £35,113
– London boroughs and Home Counties play host to the UK’s highest earning homes
– Homeowners have also benefited from falling mortgage rates over this period, as despite property values rising by 43% monthly mortgage payments have increased by just 3%
New analysis from independent mortgage broker Private Finance shows the average UK home has increased in value almost three times faster than its owner’s wages over the past decade.1
The average UK home experienced a 43% rise in value between 2008 and 2018, from £160,954 to £229,861.
In comparison, the average annual UK salary has increased by just 15% from £24,606 to £28,860 over the same period. Had wages experienced the same percentage increase as house prices, the average employee would now be earning £35,187 per year.
London boroughs and Home Counties home to highest earning properties
Homeowners in London boroughs and the Home Counties have witnessed their homes outperform them to the greatest extent.
The average property price in Kensington and Chelsea has soared by 85% over the ten-year period, while wages have increased by just 3%.
Had homeowners in Kensington and Chelsea seen their wages increase to the same extent as the value of their homes then the average salary in the borough would now be £112,124.
Table 1: Top 10 hardest working regions for house prices
| Local Authority | Growth in wages 2008-2018 (%) | Growth in house prices 2008-2018 (%) | 2018 annual wages | Average earnings if wage growth matched house price growth |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 3% | 85% | £62,088 | £112,124 |
| City of Westminster | -1% | 78% | £55,515 | £99,289 |
| Camden | 9% | 89% | £44,886
|
£77,424 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 11% | 69% | £46,306 | £70,057 |
| Islington | 12% | 83% | £43,820 | £70,191 |
| Richmond upon Thames | 15% | 84% | £48,235 | £75,703 |
| Hackney | 18% | 89% | £33,800 | £52,720 |
| Haringey | 12% | 96% | £33,597 | £58,044 |
| South Bucks | 7% | 65% | £42,812 | £65,623 |
| Elmbridge | -11% | 66% | £43,030 | £79,381 |
Property values rise as mortgage costs fall
Not only have homeowners benefited from rising property values over this period, but falling mortgage rates mean that the monthly cost of owning a home has become considerably more affordable – making their return on investment even more lucrative.
From 2008 to 2018, the average two-year fixed rate mortgage at 75% loan-to-value (LTV) has fallen from 4.77% to 1.73%. While house prices have increased, the average UK homeowner who purchased at the end of 2018 would only be paying £18 (3%) more per month on their monthly mortgage payments thanks to falling mortgage rates, this is despite the average loan size increasing by 43%.2
Graph 1: Bank of England average 2 year (75% LTV) fixed rate mortgage rate
Table 2: Monthly repayments for average UK homeowner3
| Year | Interest rate (2 year fixed 75% LTV) | Monthly mortgage payments |
| 2008 | 4.77% | £690 |
| 2018 | 1.73% | £708 |
| 10-year difference | 304 bps | +£18 |
Simon Checkley, Managing Director at Private Finance comments:
“Property first and foremost provides a roof over your head and a place to call home; however, over the long term it can act as a lucrative investment. With falling mortgage rates making the cost of owning a home even more affordable, homeowners’ potential return on investment could be set to become even greater.
“Many homeowners will undoubtedly take comfort in the fact that over the past 10 years, as they’ve worked hard to earn an income, their home has essentially been doing the same – and arguably even more successfully. Though house price growth has slowed in recent years, it remains buoyant in many areas of the country, and has historically remained strong over the long-term.
“This money needn’t remain locked away in our homes. For homeowners looking to stay put, or move to a more manageable house, downsizing and remortgaging are both options that can enable individuals to release some of the money earnt by their home to help them with their wider financial goals.”
Notes
1 Analysis based on ONS Price Data (December 2008 and December 2018) and ONS gross mean weekly earnings data (2008 and 2018) for local authorities across the UK. Local authorities only considered where full sets of both data are available.
2 Bank of England quoted household rates data, 2 year fixed rate 75% LTV (MONTH/YEAR).
3 2008 repayment calculation: Based on assumption of average UK house price in 2008 (£160,954). Average loan size (75% LTV) = £120,716. Mortgage term of 25 years.
2018 repayment calculation: Based on assumption of average UK house price in 2018 (£229,861). Average loan size (75% LTV) = £172,396. Mortgage term of 25 years.
Previous Article
AST for tenant's lodger?Next Article
Property developers target North of England
Mick Roberts
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up10:50 AM, 1st October 2019, About 5 years ago
Great reading.
I tell people this now, yes we had cheap prices, but u now also have mega cheap interest rates we could have only dreamed of.
Kathy Evans
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up11:15 AM, 1st October 2019, About 5 years ago
I think the rise in house prices is very area dependent. My left neighbour's house is valued at the same price as my right neighbour's house was in 2005. All my rental properties are now valued at least 15 grand less than they were in 2008. London and the Home Counties is not the whole country. And in the days when a mortgage was just 2.5 times wages, interest rates were well into double figures
Darlington Landlord
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up15:58 PM, 1st October 2019, About 5 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Kathy Evans at 01/10/2019 - 11:15
Totally agree with you. In the North East many properties are still below 2007 values, yet there is an assumption by the media that all landlords are sitting on massive capital gains
Kathy Evans
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up9:37 AM, 3rd October 2019, About 5 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Darlington Landlord at 01/10/2019 - 15:58
Yes, if a tenant wants to buy one of my properties at the price I paid for it, I'll snap it up! I had planned to get out of landlording last year, but can't afford to.
Stewart
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up16:14 PM, 5th October 2019, About 5 years ago
It's completely pointless publishing this unless you point out that London is completely different from other parts of the country. Huge immigration. Lack of building. Send then up to Newcastle. My rents have barely changed over the last ten years. If you're going to publish stuff like this it needs to cover the whole country.
Jonathan Clarke
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up8:22 AM, 6th October 2019, About 5 years ago
The average figures are of course relatively meaningless
Vast variations exist - as has been pointed out
I`m in the SE
Some I bought in 2010 have doubled in price so beat average wage inflation by over 6 times not 3
Take leverage into account though as well and at 75% LTV that figure jumps so my property is beating wage inflation by more than 24 times now in the past decade
I recommend reading
Real Estate Riches by Dolf de Roos
Chapter 4
`Beating the Averages Easily`