London has now surpassed the North East of England as the region where homeowners are most likely to sell their property for less than they originally paid, new analysis suggests. Research by property firm Hamptons, which examined English regions and Wales, estimates that 14.8 per cent of London sellers in 2025 offloaded their homes at a loss. This figure represents the highest proportion in their study, significantly exceeding the national average of 8.7 per cent.
Historically, sellers in the North East faced the highest probability of making a loss, a trend observed in nine of the past 10 years. As recently as 2019, nearly a third (29.9 per cent) of North East home sellers sold for less than their purchase price, compared to just 9.2 per cent in London. This disparity was attributed to the northern region's protracted recovery following the 2008 financial crisis. However, Hamptons notes that robust recent price growth across northern regions has since bolstered returns for sellers there.
