Leading property listing platform Rightmove has unveiled the UK’s property hotspots for 2021 – and Greater Manchester’s suburbs have dominated the list.
The property market in our region has been booming since we’ve entered into a new year, and the new analysis published today has revealed that demand is still outstripping supply, with an increase of 51% in properties coming up for sale last month and in March, compared to the first two months of the year.
The south Manchester suburb of Didsbury has been named the most popular spot for home buyers in the UK.
The average asking price for a property in Didsbury currently stands at £367,429, which is more than £130,000 higher than the Greater Manchester average of £237,380.
Its neighbouring south Manchester suburb of Chorlton also makes the top ten list of popular areas for buyers, along with three other affluent Greater Manchester areas – Prestwich, Bramhall and Heaton Moor.
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Walthamstow in east London takes second place, while Wirral in Merseyside is third in terms of property searches on the Rightmove site, with more than 2.7 million people currently signed up for property alerts on the site.
The top 10 most popular property hotspots, and the average asking prices, according to Rightmove, are:
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Didsbury, Greater Manchester – £367,429
Walthamstow, London – £499,534
Wirral, Merseyside – £287,243
Prestwich, Greater Manchester – £277,643
Horsforth, West Yorkshire – £312,460
Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Greater Manchester – £359,377
West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire – £365,370
Heaton Moor, Greater Manchester – £307,040
Bramhall, Greater Manchester – £482,311
Chiswick, London – £969,350
Tim Bannister – Property Expert at Rightmove – said: “Our new analysis gives sellers in these local hot spots a clear indication of just how popular their area is, as it tracks the huge pool of the most eager prospective buyers who are signed up to find out instantly when a seller decides to bring their property to market.
“More buyers have realised they don’t have the luxury of waiting until the weekend to decide which properties they want to request to view, and so they’re making sure they’ve signed up to find out first when a home comes up for sale.
“We’re hearing reports of some areas where properties are selling within a few days of being added to Rightmove, and the average time to find a buyer is the quickest we’ve ever recorded nationally, but we also know there are thousands of local markets and some are moving more slowly than others, so as a seller you’ll want your property being seen by the biggest group of buyers possible, giving it the best chance of selling and achieving the best price”.
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Philip James Kennedy
Rob Kennedy – Managing Director of Philip James Kennedy Estate Agents in Didsbury – said: “The marketplace during 2021 has seen a surge in the Didsbury property market with record levels of sales and many properties generating multiple bids.
“House prices have increased as a result and properties are selling and completing faster.
“During these unprecedented times the importance of ‘home’ has increased with many buyers wanting more space working from home, more space to relax and exercise, and many buyers wanting more outside space, easy access to a local park or larger garden”.
Featured Image – Flickr
Property
Greater Manchester reveals £11.7m plan to tackle empty homes across the region
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester has revealed its £11.7m plan to tackle all the homes currently empty across the region.
They’re aiming to tackle the pressures currently being put on temporary accommodation by turning long-term empty homes throughout the region into safe and secure housing for families who need it.
Temporary accommodation is described as being a ‘vital safety net’ for people who are facing or are at risk of homelessness, as it ensures they have somewhere safe to stay – but rising demand, a shortage of affordable homes, and escalating costs have left Councils, such as Greater Manchester‘s, increasingly reliant on expensive alternatives that are often deemed unsuitable and place a significant strain on local budgets.
At the same time, thousands of long-term empty homes across Greater Manchester remain unused.
This is why, with new devolved powers, GMCA is now taking what it’s calling a ‘coordinated, region-wide approach’ to bring these empty homes back into use and pioneer long-term solutions to the temporary accommodation crisis.
Greater Manchester reveals its £11.7m plan to tackle empty homes across the region / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
New research has revealed that temporary accommodation usage across the region has nearly doubled since 2019, with 5,915 households now making use of it as of March 2025.
At the same time, it’s estimated that the region has around 12,700 homes which have been empty for six months or more.
So, the new £11.7 million package – which is funded by GMCA – will be used to refurbish or lease up to 400 properties and help Councils cut bills for ‘costly and unsuitable’ temporary accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts, hostels, or hotels.
“More than 8,000 children are among the families living in temporary accommodation in Greater Manchester and that is simply unacceptable,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham.
“Homelessness tears young families from their communities and support networks, leaving them in environments that are often wholly unsuitable. This experience leaves lasting scars and that’s why we’re taking bold action.
“By investing an initial £11.7m to bring long-term empty homes back into use, we can offer better housing options, reduce the reliance on costly temporary accommodation, and ease the financial strain on local authorities.”
Alongside this package, another £10.6 million fund will enable councils to provide financial incentives, repair support, and offer temporary leasing options for at least 400 empty homes, ensuring they can be quickly brought into use as temporary or settled accommodation for families.
The programme is part of the work of Greater Manchester’s dedicated Housing First Unit, established to deliver the vision for ‘a healthy home for all’ by 2038.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
Property
Government sets date for ‘historic’ no-fault evictions ban next year
Emily Sergeant
The Government has officially set the date for the ban of no-fault evictions next year.
Renting in England is expected to be ‘transformed’ with a raft of major changes coming into effect as part of the new Renters’ Rights Bill from 1 May 2026 for 11 million people across the country – and this, crucially, includes the end of Section 21 evictions at no-fault of the tenant.
As it stands, Section 21 notices leaving thousands of people vulnerable to homelessness every year, but in just under six months’ time, private renters will no longer face this threat.
To the vast majority of renters and landlords who play by the rules, this government has got your back.
Further measures announced as part of the new Renters’ Rights Bill – which has now been passed in law – include a ban on rental bidding wars, making landlords and letting agents legally required to publish an asking rent for their property and prevented from asking for, encouraging, or accepting any bids above this price, and also a ban on in-tenancy rent increases written in to contracts.
The latter will prevent landlords from implementing higher rents mid-tenancy, and only allow them to raise the rent once a year to the market rate.
Landlords will also no longer be able to unreasonably refuse tenants’ requests to have a pet, nor will they be able to discriminate against potential tenants, because they receive benefits or have children.
‘No-fault’ evictions are now banned in England under historic new legislation / Credit: Maria Ziegler (via Unsplash)
On the flip side, however, the new Bill means landlords will have stronger legally valid reasons to get their properties back when needed – whether that’s be to move in themselves, sell the property, or deal with rent arrears or anti-social behaviour.
The Government says this will work to deliver a fairer system for both sides.
“We’re calling time on no fault evictions and rogue landlords,” commented Housing Secretary, Steve Reed. “Everyone should have peace of mind and the security of a roof over their head, and the law we’ve just passed delivers that.
“We’re now on a countdown of just months to that law coming in, so good landlords can get ready and bad landlords should clean up their act.”
Alongside the Renters’ Rights Act, an ‘improved’ Housing Health and Safety Rating System, which will better assess health and safety risks in homes and making it more efficient and easier to understand, will also be introduced.
And there are also planned new standards to ensure privately rented properties are warmer and cheaper to run.
Emily Sergeant -
13th May 2021 
