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London Now Leads UK in Loss-Making Home Sales, Hamptons Finds

Flat-dominated districts show the steepest declines, reflecting weaker demand under higher costs.

Overview

  • Hamptons’ 2025 analysis shows 14.8% of London sellers took a loss, compared with a national average of 8.7%.
  • Flat owners were far more exposed than house sellers, with 19.9% of flat sales loss-making versus 4.5% for houses, and flats accounting for 90% of London losses.
  • Tower Hamlets had the highest share selling below purchase price at 28.2%, followed by the City of London (26.2%), Kensington and Chelsea (22.4%), Westminster (22.1%) and Hammersmith and Fulham (20.8%).
  • Despite more losses in the capital, the average London seller still achieved a £172,510 uplift, while across England and Wales the typical gain was £91,260 over roughly nine years of ownership.
  • Regional fortunes have flipped, with the North East’s loss-making share falling to 13.9% from 29.9% in 2019 as northern price growth strengthened.