HOUSE prices increased by 4.4 per cent – more than the average for the North West – in St Helens in June, new figures show.

The rise contributes to the longer-term trend, which has seen property prices in the area grow by 19.5 per cent over the last year – the highest in the North West.

What's the average St Helens house price

The average St Helens house price in June was £183,529, Land Registry figures show – a 4.4 per cent increase on May.

Over the month, the picture was different to that across the North West, where prices increased 2.1 per cent, and St Helens was above the 1 per cent rise for the UK as a whole.

Over the last year, the average sale price of property in St Helens rose by £30,000 – putting the area top among the North West’s 39 local authorities with price data for annual growth.

At the other end of the scale, properties in Allerdale gained 1.1 per cent in value, giving an average price of £175,000.

An imbalance between supply and demand for properties has remained the primary reason behind climbing house prices across the UK throughout the pandemic.

But activity is starting to slow, with soaring inflation putting household budgets under pressure.

First steps on the property ladder

First-time buyers in St Helens spent an average of £165,000 on their property – £27,000 more than a year ago, and £52,000 more than in June 2017.

By comparison, former owner-occupiers paid £206,000 on average in June – 24.8% more than first-time buyers.

Property types

Owners of terraced houses saw the biggest rise in property prices in St Helens in June – they increased 4.8%, to £142,226 on average. Over the last year, prices rose by 18.4%.

Among other types of property:

  • Detached: up 3.7% monthly; up 20.9% annually; £305,478 average
  • Semi-detached: up 4.4% monthly; up 20.3% annually; £190,642 average
  • Flats: up 4.4% monthly; up 13.4% annually; £100,547 average

How do property prices in St Helens compare?

Buyers paid 13.6per cent less than the average price in the North West (£212,000) in June for a property in St Helens.

Across the North West, property prices are lower than those across the UK, where the average cost £286,000.

The most expensive properties in the North West were in Trafford – £362,000 on average, and twice as much as more than in St Helens. Trafford properties cost three times as much as homes in Burnley (£120,000 average), at the other end of the scale.

The highest property prices across the UK were in Kensington and Chelsea.

Factfile

Average property price in June

St Helens: £183,529

The North West: £212,347

UK: £286,397

Annual growth to June

St Helens: +19.5 per cent

The North West: +6.2 per cent

UK: +7.8 per cent

Highest and lowest annual growth in the North West

St Helens: +19.5 per cent

Allerdale: +1.1 per cent