More than a third of homes for sale are in postcode areas where house prices are falling, according to new analysis.

The combination of a high number of properties for sale and elevated mortgage rates is putting downward pressure on the housing market, the research by Zoopla found.

Annual house prices fell in 37 out of the 119 postcode areas the property portal tracks between September 2025 and September 2026, with the majority of these areas in southern England and London.

However, the picture is different in other parts of the UK, with property values rising by up to 5.8% in regions like Northern Ireland, Scotland and north west England.

Zoopla said house prices are rising in these regions as properties are generally worth less compared to the south of England and the impact of higher mortgage rates isn’t felt as strongly.

Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: “The extra cost of mortgages has made home buyers more selective while greater choice of homes for sale has increased the scope to negotiate on price.

“The impact is being felt by sellers in southern England where house price falls are most concentrated as average prices continue to rise across the rest of the country.”

The postcode areas where house prices are falling

House prices fell in four regions in the year to September 2026, according to Zoopla’s analysis: London, south east England, east of England and south west England.

On a local level, just 10 out of the 37 postcode areas where property values dropped were outside the south of England and London.

House prices fell the most in west central London, steeply declining by 5.7%. They also fell by 4.3% in Llandrindod Wells, Wales.

In east central London, property values decreased by 3.8% in the year to September, and by 2.2% over the same period in Truro, south west England.

Zoopla’s analysis found 85% of homes in London and the south east of England are in postcode areas where property prices fell year-on-year.

Stamp duty reform ‘could support buyers and sellers’

Donnell from Zoopla said the government could do a number of things to stimulate the housing market in the 2026 Autumn Budget.

He said the biggest boost it could provide would be to “create the conditions” for lower mortgage rates. If they went below 5%, activity would pick up again, he said.

Lenders have increased rates following conflict in the Middle East, which has contributed to inflation rising by 3.5% in the year to September.

The average two-year fix (on 27 October) is 5.97%, up from 4.83% on 27 February, a day before the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, sparking the war.

Donnell also said another lever the government could pull is to reform the stamp duty land tax (SDLT) regime.

Zoopla research suggests extending the 2% rate to properties worth up to £500,000, from £250,000 currently, could save home movers up to £7,500 while similar reforms for first-time buyers could save them up to £6,000.

Donnell said SDLT changes “could support buyers and sellers, particularly in southern England where transaction costs are highest”.

How to sell your home in the current market

The first key thing to do to sell a home in a buyer’s market is to set the right asking price.

Zoopla analysis found that of the homes listed for sale between April and June 2026, 41% listed 5% or more below their estimated value found a buyer within 90 days, versus just 26% of those priced at least 20% above their estimated value.

It’s crucial to price well the first time around too. Zoopla also found just 19% of homes that had asking prices reduced sold within 90 days, compared to 41% of those where the sellers didn’t have to reduce the asking price.

How you present your home is also important. Tidying gardens, cleaning windows and ensuring outdoor spaces are well-lit will create a strong first impression.

Inside the home, make sure to declutter, check rooms are bright and spacious and address any minor issues such as leaking taps or flickering lights.

James Waight, head of sales at estate agent John D Wood and Co., said: “With competition between properties increasing, small improvements can make a real difference to how a home is perceived.”

Presentation of your home extends to how it will be perceived on estate agents’ and property portals’ websites too.

Waight added: “High quality photography, an engaging description and flexibility around viewings can help attract a wider pool of potential buyers. Sellers should also listen carefully to feedback from viewings and be prepared to respond if buyers consistently raise the same concerns.”