Properties in half of Britain’s local markets are taking longer to sell compared to the same period last year, according to analysis from Zoopla, despite national average selling times remaining static.
While the national average time to sell stands at 42 days, unchanged year-on-year to July 2026, the property portal’s research identified 180 of the 363 local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales where selling times have increased over the past 12 months.
Eight areas now require 60 days or longer to secure a buyer. Melton in the East Midlands leads with an average of 76 days to sell, representing a 21-day increase compared to July 2025. Westminster and Teignbridge recorded the second and third slowest markets respectively.
Regional disparities emerge
The data reveals substantial variations between neighbouring markets. In Scotland, homes in Aberdeenshire require 45 days to sell on average, nearly five weeks longer than properties in Falkirk.
In Leicestershire, properties in Melton take more than six weeks longer to sell than those in North West Leicestershire, despite the areas being less than an hour’s drive apart and the latter benefiting from M1 connectivity to Leicester and Nottingham.
The trend contrasts with recent market activity showing declining sales volumes, suggesting varied local conditions across the country.
Conversely, 145 markets registered decreases in selling times. Barnsley recorded the most significant improvement with sales completing nearly two weeks faster than last year, while Newcastle-under-Lyme followed with an 11-day reduction.
In London, Waltham Forest properties now take 33 days to sell on average, an eight-day increase year-on-year, despite remaining the capital’s fastest-moving market.
Richard Donnell, 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.”
Donnell advised sellers in slower markets to consult local agents and ensure accurate pricing from the outset, describing pricing as “the biggest factor within a seller’s control, whatever the local market is doing.”
Market implications
The divergence in local market performance suggests buyers are becoming increasingly selective, with location-specific factors such as transport links and employment centres influencing demand. The findings may prompt sellers in slower markets to adjust pricing strategies, whilst estate agencies navigate increased operational costs that could affect service provision.
The data indicates that national-level statistics may provide limited guidance for property transactions, with micro-market conditions playing a determining role in selling timeframes across Britain’s housing market.
