Property

Two Greater Manchester areas named UK ‘property hotspots’ as house prices soar

Rightmove has released a list of the top UK property hotspots based off 2022 data.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 6th January 2023

Two residential areas in Greater Manchester have been highlighted as UK ‘property hotspots’ based off house price data from 2022.

And they’re probably not the places you’d expect either.

There’s no doubt the property market in our region has been booming over the last decade or so, with average house prices seeming to rise year-on-year, and more and more areas becoming sought-after as the places to live time goes on – but now, Rightmove has released its list of the top UK property hotspots for this year based off 2022 data, and two rather surprising Greater Manchester areas have made their way onto it.

To create its list of hotspots, the UK’s biggest property website compared average house prices across the UK between 2022 and 2021 to out find the areas where prices they have risen the most, and the areas where prices are increasing more than the national average indicate that the area is a ‘hotspot’.

As well as soaring prices, Rightmove also considers a ‘property hotspot’ to be a place where there is a high demand for homes too.

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Manchester‘s inner city area of Hulme has claimed second place on the list.

Rightmove has released a list of the top UK property hotspots for this year based off 2022 data / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Hulme is an ever-changing residential area that’s been the subject of redevelopment projects several times over the years, and has always been a favourite with students and young professionals thanks to it being home to Manchester Metropolitan University‘s (MMU) Birley campus, but Rightmove’s latest data shows it could be set to surge in popularity with a much wider audience this year.

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According to the data, the average price of a home in Hulme jumped up by 26% from £188,454 in 2021 to £238,249 in 2022.

Elsewhere on the list, the Bolton residential area of Little Lever has been named another one of the UK’s property hotspots, claiming eighth place after average house prices soared by 20% from £169,709 in 2021 to £202,890 in 2022.

Grabbing first place as the UK’s top property hotspot was Eastwood in Nottinghamshire, according to Rightmove, with average asking prices in the area jumping by 29% compared with 2021.

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Other property hotspots named in Rightmoves top 10 list based off last year’s data include Sandbanks in Dorset, Heathfield in East Sussex, Chelston in Devon, St. Peters in Kent, Cowes on the Isle Of Wight, Birchington in Kent, and Deeping St. James in Cambridgeshire.

Property prices in each of those areas had soared by more than 19% since 2021.

Two rather surprising Greater Manchester areas have made their way onto the list / Credit: Roger Kidd (via Geograph)

While the South East has the most areas featured in the top 10 property hotspots, the North East, however, saw the biggest regional annual growth of 10.3% in 2022, and as a whole, house prices across the UK were higher in 2022 than the year before.

Rightmove says average house prices were 5.6% higher across the UK at the end of 2022 than they were at the same time in 2021.

“Property prices have risen exceptionally over the last three years,” admitted Tim Bannister, property expert at Rightmove.

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“If we compare with December 2019, just before the pandemic started, the average asking price of a home in Great Britain has risen by a staggering 20%, so to put that into context, asking prices rose just 3% in the previous three years, and we need to go all the way back to 2013 to see similar price growth.

House prices were 5.6% higher across the UK at the end of 2022 than they were in 2021 / Credit: Julie Twist Properties (via Rightmove)

“We expect average asking prices to drop by 2% next year now that the frenetic period for the market is over.

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“It is likely that some sellers, particularly those in locations and sectors of the market that have benefitted the most from pandemic price growth, may be willing to give up some of their gains in this calmer market in order to negotiate a successful sale.”

Featured Image – Invest in Bolton

Property

Law requiring landlords to repair hazards within 24 hours comes into effect

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Awaab Ishak

Landlords will now have 24 hours to repair hazards reported to them as a new law comes into effect across England.

The law taking effect today comes after a ‘landmark’ new social housing bill – which was given the Royal Ascent to become law in July 2023 – was proposed and approved in early January last year.

‘Awaab’s Law’ is named after Greater Manchester toddler Awaab Ishak, who tragically died in 2020 as a result of prolonged exposure to mould in his Rochdale home, a coroner ruled back in 2022, and following his death, the Government had been pledging to deliver the new reforms.

But today (Monday 27 October), the first part of the law finally comes into effect.

This means that all social landlords – generally the local council, or a housing association – will from now be required to repair any hazards which are reported to them within 24 hours.

Landlords must also investigate ‘significant’ damp and mould within 10 working days of being notified, and then make properties safe in five working days.

For both types of hazards, they must also write the findings to tenants within three working days of inspection.   

On top of that, as part of the reforms, landlords now must also consider the circumstances of tenants which could put them at risk – including young children and those with disabilities or health conditions – and alternative accommodation must also be offered if homes cannot be made safe within the required timeframes.

Awaab’s Law is being called a ‘lasting legacy’ to the two-year-old.

“Everyone deserves a safe and decent home to live in and Awaab Ishak is a powerful reminder of how this can sadly be a matter of life or death,” commented Housing Secretary, Steve Reed, as Awaab’s Law comes into effect today.   

“Awaab’s family has fought hard for change and their work to protect millions of tenants’ lives will live on as a legacy to their son.  

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“Our changes will give tenants a stronger voice and force landlords to act urgently when lives are at risk, ensuring such tragedies are never repeated.”

More of Awaab’s Law will be phased in both next year and in 2027 to make homes safer from more hazards, the Government has confirmed.

Featured Image – GMP / Family Handout

Property

Behind the doors of the eclectic £1.75m Victorian villa that’s BACK on the market in a leafy Manchester suburb

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Fancy a look inside an eclectic Victorian villa that’s now BACK on the market in a sought-after Manchester suburb?

The only thing is, you’ll need the small matter of £1.75 million before you can call it yours.

Of course, it goes without saying that the vast majority of people reading this article won’t have £1.95 million just sitting in their bank accounts right now, but if like us, you’ve got no shame in admitting you love looking at houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never live, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute stunner.

Take a look behind the grand front door of one of the finest properties the Manchester housing market has to offer at the moment.

This eclectic Victorian villa is on the market in a leafy Manchester suburb for £1.95m / Credit: Inigo (via Rightmove)

This stunning detached villa is situated on a prime residential street in Whalley Range, which is one of south Manchester’s affluent suburbs, known and loved for its wide range of amenities, good local schools, public transport links across Greater Manchester, and green spaces such as the popular Alexandra Park.

Built in 1885, the house sits among a number of grand Victorian villas built around Alexandra Park to serve the wealthy merchants and bankers looking to escape the smog of city centre.

Spanning some 3,854 sq ft, the main house has seven bedrooms and ample living space arranged across four floors, all of which estate agents describe as being “impeccably designed”, while at its rear is a recently-renovated annexe, and a landscaped garden with an established kitchen garden.

While still being steeped in history, the house has undergone an extensive restoration programme over the past decade by its current owner.

The property has undergone extensive restorations over the last decade / Credit: Inigo (via Rightmove)

Decorated to the highest of standards across all four floors, the current owner has managed to respect the Victorian sensibilities of the building, while still introducing a rich colour and material palette.

You enter the historic villa through the arched entry of the original porch, with all of the rooms and staircases situated off the grand hallway.

Some of the property’s stand-out features have to be the array of original fireplaces and bay windows, ornate ceilings, and decorative tiled floors, as well as the accommodations themselves, of course, which include a bespoke kitchen-diner, and seven spacious bedrooms, many with en-suite bathrooms and even one with a purpose-built walk-in-wardrobe.

If all of that wasn’t impressive enough as it is, the property also boasts its very-own retro cinema room and treatment space on the lower ground floor too.

Then, through a Victorian garden wall is where you’ll find the coach house, which sits separate from the main house, and has recently been built as a standalone guest space – with a kitchen, shower room, and mezzanine sleeping area above.

The property’s excellence only continues when you step outside into the garden / Credit: Inigo (via Rightmove)

The property’s excellence only continues when you step outside into the garden.

The garden has been landscaped to make the most of its large corner plot, with a decked area that unfolds from the sunroom and leads down to a lawn that’s bordered by clipped privacy hedging.

The star of the show, however, has to be the kitchen garden, which the current owner has implemented in raised beds, partly shaded by established climbing grape vines which you’ll find are full of fruit in the summer.

Like what you see? Well thankfully, the property is now BACK on the market, and for cheaper too.

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This property on Alexandra Road South is currently on the market with Tyldsley-based independent estate agents, Jamie Burke – powered by eX – for a Guide Price of a whopping £1.75 million, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the property company to arrange a viewing.

Or you could just take the cheaper route instead and have a nosy at the Rightmove link here.

Featured image – Inigo

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