House prices increased by 4.1 per cent – more than the average for the East of England – in St Albans in February, new figures show.

The rise contributes to the longer-term trend, which has seen property prices in the area grow by 2.6 per cent over the last year.

The average St Albans house price in February was £589,270, Land Registry figures show – a 4.1 per cent increase on January.

Over the month, the picture was different to that across the East of England, where prices increased 1.7 per cent, and St Albans was above the 0.4 per cent rise for the UK as a whole.

Over the last year, the average sale price of property in St Albans rose by £15,000 – putting the area third among the East of England’s 45 local authorities with price data for annual growth.

The highest annual growth in the region was in Babergh, where property prices increased on average by 7.6 per cent, to £349,000. At the other end of the scale, properties in Ipswich lost 10.1 per cent of their value, giving an average price of £213,000.

First steps on the property ladder

First-time buyers in St Albans spent an average of £447,000 on their property – £11,000 more than a year ago, and £66,000 more than in February 2019.

By comparison, former owner-occupiers paid £704,000 on average in February – 57.5% more than first-time buyers.

Property types

Owners of terraced houses saw the biggest rise in property prices in St Albans in February – they increased 4.6%, to £529,005 on average. Over the last year, prices rose by 4.1%.

Among other types of property:

  • Detached: up 3.7 per cent monthly; up 1.6 per cent annually; £1,141,790 average
  • Semi-detached: up 4.1 per cent monthly; up 3.7 per cent annually; £714,991 average
  • Flats: up 3.9 per cent monthly; up 0.7 per cent annually; £318,823 average

How do property prices in St Albans compare?

Buyers paid more for properties in St Albans than anywhere else in the East of England in February. The average price paid would buy 2.9 homes in Great Yarmouth (£206,000), at the other end of the scale.

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

Across the East of England, property prices are high compared to those across the UK, where the average cost is £281,000.

Factfile

Average property price in February

  • St Albans: £589,270
  • The East of England: £339,144
  • UK: £280,660

Annual change to February

  • St Albans: +2.6 per cent
  • The East of England: -1.6 per cent
  • UK: -0.2 per cent

Highest and lowest annual growth in the East of England

  • Babergh: +7.6 per cent
  • Ipswich: -10.1 per cent