Manchester continues to boast one of the strongest property markets in the UK, with new figures showing another leap in demand for homes in the city.
The first quarter of this year got off to a much more positive start than in 2024 thanks to renewed confidence and stability, with almost every region in the UK recording strong growth in terms of the number of property sales agreed, according to the latest data from TwentyCi.
The only location that experienced a decline was Northern Ireland, where sales were down by 1.7% in Q1 2025 compared with Q1 2024.
Elsewhere, the East Midlands and the North West were out in front after a strong hike in buyer demand alongside a healthy supply boost that meant more opportunity for successful transactions – which left them with a 14.2% and a 13.7% increase respectively in the number of sales agreed.
Looking closer at which cities were leading the way, Manchester was the stand-out location with a huge 16.4% annual jump in the number of sales agreed, demonstrating how the city continues to draw buyers looking for value, strong capital appreciation prospects, and a location with swathes of exciting regeneration and investment improvements taking place.
The second-strongest city was Newcastle upon Tyne, where 13% more sales were agreed in the first quarter of this year than last year, followed by Cardiff with 12%, Peterborough with 11% and Nottingham with 11%.
Top growth for Manchester property
Property investors have increasingly looked to Manchester as a long-term growth hotspot, with house prices in the city consistently climbing at a faster rate than not only London, but much of the rest of the country when comparing city values.
At the same time, the city’s rental market has also been booming as the number of tenants moving to the area has risen over recent years. Again, while London has a higher volume of renters, Manchester is increasingly competing with the capital thanks to its affordability, rapidly expanding employment opportunities, and the impact of wider investment on the amenities and quality of life on offer.
According to TwentyCi’s latest report, Manchester has also seen some of strongest growth UK-wide in the number of lets agreed across major cities when comparing Q1 2025’s figures to last year’s results.
The data shows that Edinburgh took the top spot for lets agreed with a 20% year-on-year rise, with Manchester in second position with a strong 16% increase. This was alongside Birmingham with 16%, followed by Bristol (12%) and Nottingham (11%).
Zooming out on a regional level, TwentyCi found that Outer London actually recorded the biggest jump in lets agreed (16%), which could indicate that more tenants are leaving the centre behind for more affordable locations within easy reach. Meanwhile, the North West region as a whole was slightly further behind with a 9% annual increase, which highlights how Manchester is outperforming the wider region in terms of tenant demand.
An easy place to sell property
For homebuyers and property investors alike, assessing the future saleability of a property is an important consideration before making a purchase; properties that are likely to appeal to the widest range of people in terms of property type, condition, location and other factors can end up being the most profitable due to the level of interest they command.
Investing in a property with a short lease (if it is leasehold), or in a ‘niche’ location that may not appeal to multiple buyer types, might make it more likely that you have to reduce your asking price when it comes time to sell.
TwentyCi’s report analysed the UK’s regions to discover the ‘easiest’ and ‘hardest’ places to sell a home, using a range of weightings including house prices, time to sell, fall-through rates and price reductions.
The ranking was as following, from easiest to hardest: Scotland; North East; Yorkshire and The Humber; West Midlands; North West; East Midlands; Outer London; East of England; South West; Wales; Inner London; South East.
As the results demonstrate, and TwentyCi points out: “In summary, it is much easier to sell a property in the North than in the South of the country.” For those considering buying in Manchester, the current strength of demand for property there is another positive indicator of the investment potential of Manchester property.
Looking to invest in property in Manchester? Get in touch with BuyAssociation today to find out about our current and upcoming opportunities.
