House price growth slowed for the first time in six months in January as the market approached the deadline for the stamp duty holiday on March 31.
Annual house price growth slowed to 6.4 per cent, from 7.3 per cent in December, according to the Nationwide house price index published this week (February 2).
The average property price in January stood at £229,748, down from £230,920 in the month before.
Robert Gardner, chief economist at Nationwide, described the deceleration as “modest”.
He said: “House prices fell by 0.3 per cent month-on-month, after taking account of seasonal effects – the first monthly decline since June.
“To a large extent, the slowdown probably reflects a tapering of demand ahead of the end of the stamp duty holiday, which prompted many people considering a house move to bring forward their purchase.”
| Jan-21 | Dec-20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Index (seasonally adjusted) | 460.7 | 462 |
| Monthly Change (seasonally adjusted) | -0.30% | 0.90% |
| Annual Change | 6.40% | 7.30% |
| Average Price (not seasonally adjusted) | £229,748 | £230,920 |
Mr Gardner also said that shifts in housing preferences were likely to provide some support for the market looking ahead.
But he added that housing market activity was likely to slow and “perhaps sharply” in the coming months if the stamp duty holiday ends as scheduled, and labour market conditions continue to weaken.
Jeremy Leaf, principal at estate agency Jeremy Leaf & Co, commented: “The slowing of the pace of price rises is no surprise and is what we have been seeing on the high street since Christmas.
“Nevertheless, we expect a softening in prices and transaction numbers rather than a major correction. Most sales arranged are progressing to exchange of contracts without renegotiation, and movement restrictions only build up more pent-up demand, to say nothing of the shortage of listings, which only increase upward pressure on price.
“Those likely to miss out on the stamp duty saving due to backlogs tell us they would prefer to compromise on price rather than miss out on the property they have set their hearts on.”
Meanwhile Tomer Aboody, director of property finance lender MT Finance, said the market was “still going relatively strong considering the circumstances”, but that it indicated how buyers perceived stamp duty as a “barrier” to home ownership.
In a Petitions Committee session this week (February 1) MPs discussed a petition to extend the stamp duty holiday that had garnered more than 130,000 signatures.
Responding for the government in the session, Jesse Norman, financial secretary to the Treasury, said he could not comment on tax policy outside a fiscal event.
Mr Norman also said: “[It] was the time-limited aspect of the measure which drove that increased demand, which is exactly why the end date of March this year was announced when the policy itself was first introduced.”
chloe.cheung@ft.com
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