Skip to main content

Central London leads housing market slowdown

London house prices are likely to continue to underperform even if the shift in buyer demand away from the capital due to remote working ends. More stretched house prices in the capital prior to the jump in mortgage rates means the impact of higher borrowing costs on demand will be most acute there. Indeed, the cost of a mortgage on the average London home has jumped from 40% of a typical FTB household’s income a year ago to almost two thirds. So, while inflation in London house prices never reached double figures in 2021-22 as it did in the rest of the country, it has been first to cool with prices already falling year-over-year in some central and prime boroughs. We anticipate a 12% peak-to-trough fall in prices nationally, but in London we expect a drop of at least 15%.

Drop-Ins – The World In 2023 (10-11 January): Will 2023 be another rollercoaster year for economies and markets? Join our senior economists for these special briefings on 10th and 11th January to find out what to expect in the coming 12 months. Register now

Become a client to read more

This is premium content that requires an active Capital Economics subscription to view.

Already have an account?

You may already have access to this premium content as part of a paid subscription.

Sign in to read the content in full or get details of how you can access it

Register for free

Sign up for a free account to:

  • Unlock additional content
  • Register for Capital Economics events
  • Receive email updates and economist-curated newsletters
  • Request a free trial of our services


Get access