Homes in almost half of Great Britain’s local authority areas are taking longer to sell than a year ago, despite the national average remaining unchanged at 42 days.
Zoopla found that selling times increased across 180 of the 363 areas analysed, while 145 markets recorded an improvement.
Eight local authorities now have an average selling time of at least 60 days, led by Melton in the East Midlands, where sellers wait 76 days to secure a buyer — 21 days longer than in July 2025.
The findings reveal significant variations between neighbouring markets, highlighting the importance of realistic pricing and detailed local knowledge.
SCOTLAND DOMINATES FASTEST MARKETS
All ten of Great Britain’s fastest-selling areas are in Scotland. Falkirk led the ranking at 11 days, followed by Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire at 13 days.
Carlisle and Barnsley were England’s fastest markets, with homes taking an average of 23 days to sell.
Zoopla attributed Scotland’s performance partly to its more affordable housing and different sales process. Properties are commonly marketed as “offers over”, with a valuation and home report available to buyers earlier in the transaction.
However, Scotland also displayed substantial local differences. Homes in Aberdeenshire took 45 days to sell — more than a month longer than in Falkirk.
SOUTHERN MARKETS STRUGGLE
After Melton, southern England accounted for the remainder of the ten slowest markets.
Westminster and Teignbridge both recorded average selling times of 63 days, followed by Torridge at 61 days. Tower Hamlets, the Isle of Wight, Thanet and North Devon each stood at 60 days.
Higher property values and purchasing costs continued to affect London, while increased choice and higher council tax charges affecting second homes contributed to slower activity in parts of the South West.
Even London displayed a marked divide. Westminster was among Britain’s slowest markets, while Waltham Forest was the capital’s fastest at 33 days — although this was eight days slower than last year.
PRICE REMAINS CRITICAL
Richard Donnell (main picture, inset), executive director at Zoopla, said: “While the national time to sell has barely moved, that stability is masking a real divide opening up between local markets.
“In areas like Melton in Leicestershire, homes are taking noticeably longer to sell than a year ago, while markets just a short drive away are speeding up.
“If you’re selling in a slower market, don’t take a wait-and-see approach — talk to a local agent who knows what’s happening street by street, and make sure your home is priced right from day one. That’s still the biggest factor within a seller’s control, whatever the local market is doing.”
