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03

Sept 2020

Last Updated: 02/09/2020
Housing
Housing

Harrogate house sales fall by 50%, but 'manic' market now rebounding

by Thomas Barrett

| 03 Sept, 2020
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House sales in Harrogate fell by 50% in the first six months of this year, but estate agents say a "manic" July and August means 2020 will end strongly.

linley

House sales in Harrogate virtually halved in the first six months of the year but estate agents say a "manic" July and August means 2020 will end strongly.

The Stray Ferret analysed Land Registry data, which shows when and where houses with a Harrogate postcode were sold.

From 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2020, 442 homes were purchased, compared with 872 in the same period in 2019. This represents a decline of 49%.

Estate agents were forced to close from 23 March until 13 May and the figures show how lockdown hit the previously buoyant sector hard.

However, Alex Atkinson, sales manager at Linley & Simpson estate agent in Harrogate told the Stray Ferret that despite the sluggish figures for January to June, it had experienced a "manic" July and August, with several homes sold for above the asking price.

He said this has been driven, in part, by the stamp duty holiday that was announced in July.

Mr Atkinson said:

"The market has been brilliant. I cannot remember the last time we agreed five sales above the asking price in one week."





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UK house prices are at a historic all-time high but Mr Atkinson said it's unlikely the housing boom will last into 2021 as the long-term economic impact of coronavirus deepens.

He said:

"The furlough scheme is still yet to end and there will probably be an economic downturn with redundancies, then the stamp duty holiday will end after Christmas. It won't last forever but my hope is it will quieten down for a little while before picking back up next year."


Mr Atkinson said about 30% of people currently buying a home in the Harrogate district are from out of the area. He said people from cities like Leeds were being tempted by the large gardens that houses in the district can offer, especially after being cooped up indoors during lockdown.

He added:

"Since lockdown we've seen a massive shift in our village and rural properties. Anything with land or outdoor space is selling like hotcakes at the moment."