June 2020

1. Headline statistics for June 2020

The average price of a property in the UK was £237,834

The annual price change for a property in the UK was 3.4%

The monthly price change for a property in the UK was 2.7%

The monthly index figure (January 2015 = 100) for the UK was 124.7

Estimates for the most recent months are provisional and are likely to be updated as more data is incorporated into the index. Read Revisions to the UK HPI data.

2. Economic statement

UK house prices increased by 3.4% in the year to June 2020, up from 1.1% in May 2020. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, average house prices in the UK increased by 2.7% between May 2020 and June 2020, compared with a rise of 0.4% during the same period a year earlier (May 2019 and June 2019).

House price growth was strongest in England where prices increased by 3.5% over the year to June 2020. The highest annual growth within the English regions was in the East Midlands where average house prices grew by 4.5%. The lowest annual growth was in the North East, where prices increased by 1.7% over the year to June 2020.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ (RICS) June 2020 UK Residential Market Survey results point to a recovery emerging across the market, with indicators on buyer demand, sales and fresh listings all rallying noticeably following the lockdown-related falls. Respondents still appear relatively cautious on the prospect of this improvement being sustained over the longer term.

The Bank of England’s Agents’ summary of business conditions - 2020 Q2 reported that housing market activity is gradually resuming in England, with estate agents reporting strong demand from buyers and a modest increase in instructions to sell. Agents around the country noted an increase in interest from buyers looking to move out of London, and in properties that are more suitable for home-working.

The UK Property Transactions Statistics for June 2020 showed that on a seasonally adjusted basis, the estimated number of transactions of residential properties with a value of £40,000 or greater was 61,780. This is 37.4% lower than a year ago. Between May 2020 and June 2020, transactions increased by 28.4%.

The Bank of England’s Money and Credit June 2020 release reported that mortgage approvals for house purchases (an indicator of future lending) increased in June to 40,000 but is still below February’s pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) level of 73,700.

3. Price changes

3.1 Annual price change

Annual price change for UK by country over the past 5 years

Average house prices in the UK increased by 3.4% in the year to June 2020, up from 1.1% in May 2020.

At the country level, the largest annual house price growth was recorded in England, increasing by 3.5% over the year to June 2020.

Northern Ireland saw house prices increase by 3.0% over the year to Quarter 2 (April to June) 2020.

Scotland saw house prices increase by 2.9% in the year to June 2020.

Wales house prices increased by 2.8% in the year to June 2020.

3.2 Average price by country and government office region

Price, monthly change and annual change by country and government office region

Price changes by country and government office region

On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, average house prices in the UK increased by 2.7% between May 2020 and June 2020, compared with a rise of 0.4% during the same period a year earlier (May 2019 and June 2019). On a seasonally adjusted basis, average house prices in the UK increased by 2.4% between May 2020 and June 2020.

3.3 Average price by property type

Average monthly price by property type

4. Sales volumes

The amount of time between the sale of a property and the registration of this information varies. It typically ranges between 2 weeks and 2 months but can be longer. Volume figures for the most recent 2 months are not yet at a reliable level for reporting, so they are not included in the report. Published transactions for recent months will increase as later registered transactions are incorporated into the index.

Sales volume data is also available by property status (new build and existing property) and funding status (cash and mortgage) in our downloadable data tables. Transactions involving the creation of a new register, such as new builds, are more complex and require more time to process. Read Revisions to the UK HPI data for more information.

4.1 Sales volumes

Number of sales volumes by country

Comparing the provisional volume estimate for April 2019 with the provisional estimate for April 2020, volume transactions decreased by 65.2% in England, 63.3% in Wales, 70.0% in Scotland and by 68.3% in Northern Ireland in the year to April 2020.

UK Property Transaction Statistics published by HM Revenue & Customs (which differ in coverage but are more complete for this period) report that on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, volume transactions decreased by 56.2% in England, 56.5% in Wales, 66.0% in Scotland and by 79.7% in Northern Ireland in the year to April 2020.

4.2 Sales volumes for the UK over the past 5 years

Sales volumes for 2016 to 2020 by country: April

Comparing the provisional volume estimate for April 2019 with the provisional estimate for April 2020, UK volume transactions decreased by 65.9%.

UK Property Transaction Statistics published by HM Revenue & Customs (which differ in coverage but are more complete for this period) report that on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, UK volume transactions decreased by 57.6% in the year to April 2020.

5. Property status for UK

Transactions involving the creation of a new register, such as new builds, are more complex and need more time to process. This means they can take longer to appear in the land registers. The volume of new build transactions for the most recent 2 months are not at a reliable level for reporting the breakdown between new build and existing resold property, so they are not included in the report.

New build and existing resold property

6. Buyer status for Great Britain

First time buyer and former owner occupier

7. Funding status for Great Britain

Cash and mortgage

For Great Britain only, Northern Ireland data is not available for funding status.

8. Housing transaction distributions

Between January 2020 and March 2020, there were 183,679 property sales.

The most popular price range for:

• England was £150,000 to £174,999 – 12,660 properties were purchased
• Northern Ireland was £125,000 to £149,999 – 849 properties were purchased
• Scotland was £75,000 to £99,999 – 2,285 properties were purchased
• Wales was £125,000 to £149,999 – 1,248 properties were purchased

The charts below show the distribution of housing transactions for Q1 (January to March) 2020 for countries of the UK. Data is presented in bands of £25,000 up to £1 million, followed by larger bands up to and over £10 million.

In line with the UK HPI revisions policy, the number of transactions will increase as more data are incorporated into the index, which would also impact the distributions presented in this analysis.

England housing transactions

Northern Ireland housing transactions

Scotland housing transactions

Wales housing transactions

9. Access the data

Download the data as CSV files or access it with our UK HPI tool.

Data revisions

View any revisions to previously published data in the data downloads or find out more about revisions in our guidance About the UK HPI.

10. About the UK House Price Index

The UK House Price Index (UK HPI) is calculated by the Office for National Statistics and Land & Property Services Northern Ireland. Find out about the methodology used to create the UK HPI.

Data for the UK House Price Index is provided by HM Land Registry, Registers of Scotland, The Land & Property Services/Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency and the Valuation Office Agency.

Find out more about the UK House Price Index.

11. Contact

*Employment Third Preference Other Workers Category:  Section 203(e) of the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997, as amended by Section 1(e) of Pub. L. 105-139, provides that once the Employment Third Preference Other Worker (EW) cut-off date has reached the priority date of the latest EW petition approved prior to November 19, 1997, the 10,000 EW numbers available for a fiscal year are to be reduced by up to 5,000 annually beginning in the following fiscal year. This reduction is to be made for as long as necessary to offset adjustments under the NACARA program. Since the EW final action date reached November 19, 1997 during Fiscal Year 2001, the reduction in the EW annual limit to 5,000 began in Fiscal Year 2002. For Fiscal Year 2020 this reduction will be limited to approximately 350.

B.  DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS

The chart below reflects dates for filing visa applications within a timeframe justifying immediate action in the application process. Applicants for immigrant visas who have a priority date earlier than the application date in the chart may assemble and submit required documents to the Department of State’s National Visa Center, following receipt of notification from the National Visa Center containing detailed instructions. The application date for an oversubscribed category is the priority date of the first applicant who cannot submit documentation to the National Visa Center for an immigrant visa. If a category is designated “current,” all applicants in the relevant category may file, regardless of priority date.

The “C” listing indicates that the category is current, and that applications may be filed regardless of the applicant’s priority date. The listing of a date for any category indicates that only applicants with a priority date which is earlier than the listed date may file their application.

Visit www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo for information on whether USCIS has determined that this chart can be used (in lieu of the chart in paragraph 5.A.) this month for filing applications for adjustment of status with USCIS. 

6.  The Department of State has a recorded message with the Final Action date information which can be heard at:  (202) 485-7699.  This recording is updated on or about the seventeenth of each month with information on final action dates for the following month.

B.  DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT (DV) CATEGORY FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE

Section 203(c) of the INA provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit additional immigration opportunities for persons from countries with low admissions during the previous five years. The NACARA stipulates that beginning with DV-99, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually-allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program. This will result in reduction of the DV-2020 annual limit to approximately 54,650. DV visas are divided among six geographic regions.  No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year.

For June, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2020 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers BELOW the specified allocation cut-off number:

Entitlement to immigrant status in the DV category lasts only through the end of the fiscal (visa) year for which the applicant is selected in the lottery. The year of entitlement for all applicants registered for the DV-2020 program ends as of September 30, 2020. DV visas may not be issued to DV-2020 applicants after that date. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2020 principals are only entitled to derivative DV status until September 30, 2020. DV visa availability through the very end of FY-2020 cannot be taken for granted. Numbers could be exhausted prior to September 30.

C.  THE DIVERSITY (DV) IMMIGRANT CATEGORY RANK CUT-OFFS WHICH WILL APPLY IN JULY

For July, immigrant numbers in the DV category are available to qualified DV-2020 applicants chargeable to all regions/eligible countries as follows. When an allocation cut-off number is shown, visas are available only for applicants with DV regional lottery rank numbers BELOW the specified allocation cut-off number:

D.  FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VISA PROCESSING AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PLEASE VISIT THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS WEBSITE AT TRAVEL.STATE.GOV

E.  OBTAINING THE MONTHLY VISA BULLETIN

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The Department of State also has available a recorded message with visa final action dates which can be heard at: (202) 485-7699. The recording is normally updated on/about the 17th of each month with information on final action dates for the following month.

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Department of State Publication 9514
CA/VO:   May 11, 2020