Property sellers in England and Wales ‘make lowest return in a decade’

Hamptons says profits on sales usually fund a move up the property ladder but reduced equity gains have made this more difficult. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Rex/Shutterstock

Sellers in England and Wales made less than £100,000 profit on the sale of their home last year, or just over 40% – the lowest return in a decade – according to the estate agent Hamptons.

It was the second annual fall in a row in terms of cash profit after the market hit a peak in 2022 when the average gain hit almost £113,000 compared with £91,820 last year. The average cash return in London fell by the most – dropping below £200,000 for the first time since at least 2015.