Kensington house prices fall by more than two times the average annual earnings in the last year

The latest research from the homebuying platform, YesHomebuyers, has revealed that over the last year, house prices in Kensington and Chelsea have fallen by more than twice the annual net salary in the borough.

The average house price across Britain has climbed by almost £24,000 in the last year, just shy of the average annual net earnings of £25,266.

In Hammersmith and Fulham, property prices are up £101,496 in the last year, more than two and a half times the average net salary of £39,503. Eight other areas have seen the increase in property values alone far exceed the average annual earnings, including Rutland, Elmbridge, Bromley, Oxford, Cotswold, West Devon, Mole Valley and Three Rivers.

However, while the market is running red hot at present, not everyone has enjoyed a jump in the value of their home.

In Kensington and Chelsea, the average house price has fallen by £145,863. With the average person making a net annual salary of £64,236 in the borough, the drop in house prices seen in the last year alone is equivalent to more than two times the average earnings.

Thankfully, Kensington and Chelsea is the only area where house price depreciation has exceeded the average earnings, but others have come close.

In Hackney house prices have fallen by £25,575, just £4,212 short of the average income in the borough, while in Camden house prices are down £28,143, a substantial proportion of the average income of £38,719.

Ryedale has seen a drop of £11,830, nearly half the annual net income of £21,756, with house prices in Stroud and Chichester also falling by around half the average earnings.

Matthew Cooper, Founder & Managing Director of Yes Homebuyers, commented:

“While some homeowners have seen their home earn more than the average wage in a single year, not everyone has reaped the benefits of the stamp duty holiday boom.

Although annual house price declines are few and far between, those to see a drop have effectively seen half of their annual income, or more, wiped from the value of their home.

”This really demonstrates the vast and varied nature of the national property market and how you can’t rely on top-line price trends when it comes to valuing your home in anticipation of selling it.”

Sources Gov.uk - UK House Price Index (May 2021 - latest available) ONS - Employee Earnings House price change - Income House price change / Income
*Table shows the areas with the highest annual house price change and how it compares to the average annual income*
Location	Current average house price	Annual change (£)	Average annual Net Salary	House price change vs annual net income (£)	House price change vs annual net income
Rutland	£385,684	£88,625	£24,336	£64,289	3.6
West Devon	£306,203	£61,513	£22,961	£38,553	2.7
Hammersmith and Fulham	£780,944	£101,496	£39,503	£61,993	2.6
Oxford	£455,537	£63,009	£24,900	£38,109	2.5
Cotswold	£443,022	£60,825	£25,820	£35,005	2.4
Mole Valley	£534,969	£54,824	£28,740	£26,084	1.9
Bromley	£485,947	£59,885	£35,611	£24,273	1.7
Three Rivers	£546,864	£47,607	£34,232	£13,375	1.4
Elmbridge	£646,258	£57,168	£43,161	£14,007	1.3
Richmond upon Thames	£723,775	£34,584	£46,471	-£11,887	0.7
Great Britain	£257,726	£23,639	£25,266	£48,904	0.9
Sources	Gov.uk - UK House Price Index (May 2021 - latest available)		ONS - Employee Earnings	House price change - Income	House price change / Income

*Table shows the areas to have seen an annual decrease in the average house price and how it compares to the average annual income*
Location	Current average house price	Annual change (£)	Average annual Net Salary	House price change vs annual net income (£)	House price change vs annual net income
Kensington and Chelsea	£1,209,210	-£145,863	£64,236	-£81,627	-2.3
Hackney	£553,032	-£25,575	£29,787	£4,212	-0.9
Camden	£835,265	-£28,143	£38,719	£10,576	-0.7
Ryedale	£235,776	-£11,830	£21,756	£9,926	-0.5
Stroud	£278,103	-£12,285	£23,834	£11,550	-0.5
Chichester	£395,931	-£10,829	£23,666	£12,837	-0.5
Newport	£187,818	-£2,729	£22,093	£19,363	-0.1
Great Britain	£257,726	£23,639	£25,266	£48,904	0.9