In spite of the recent property boom following the pandemic, some of Britain’s most undesirable homes have struggled to find buyers, with certain properties languishing on the market for over 14 years, a new study has found.
The research identifies the longest-listed homes on Rightmove, showcasing the struggles of sellers in various regions of the British property market.
Although the market has cooled in recent months, this cooling came after a period of remarkable growth, with prices and demand reaching historic highs. However, it seems some sellers have faced immense difficulties in finding buyers for their properties since 2009. Read on to discover the properties Britain’s housing boom has left behind.
The longest active listing in Britain and London is a 2-bedroom ground floor maisonette in East London, listed for 5,139 days.
The property, which was first listed on 16th February 2009, features a private entrance, a spacious living room, a modern kitchen and a private rear garden and has an asking price of £349,995.
Meanwhile, this 1-bedroom retirement flat in Havant, Hampshire, has been on the market since 4th July 2009 (5,001 days) with an asking price of £140,000, making it the least wanted residential property in the South East. The flat is part of a well-maintained retirement complex and features a bright living room, a modern kitchen, a spacious bedroom and a shower room. Residents also benefit from communal facilities, including a residents’ lounge, a laundry room, and landscaped gardens.
The least popular property in the North East is a 2-bedroom terrace in Peterlee, Durham, which features a spacious living room, a fitted kitchen, two good-sized bedrooms, a family bathroom, and a rear yard and benefits from gas central heating and double-glazing throughout. The property has been listed for 4,627 days and currently has an asking price of £64,950.
Meanwhile, the oldest listing in the North West is a 1-bedroom flat in Bury that has been on the market for 4,328 days.
Scotland’s most unwanted residence is a 2-bedroom flat in Galashiels that has been on the market for 3,238 days.
Furthermore, Wales and the East Midlands’ most unwanted homes have been on the market since 2016, while the oldest listings in the West Midlands, East of England, and Yorkshire & Humber have been available since 2017. Lastly, the least loved home in the South West is a 1-bedroom flat in Bristol, which has been listed for 1,659 days.
Ed Molyneux co-founder of digital upfront property pack provider Moverly, which conducted the research commented on the findings, acknowledging the lengthy and outdated British homebuying process. He also made some suggestions to avoid becoming one of the nation’s unluckiest sellers: “Anyone who wants to avoid becoming one of the unluckiest sellers in the nation needs to make sure that their home is being marketed in the right way, at the right price, and with the right information ready for potential buyers. Because, while you’re unlikely to be sat on the market for fourteen years, a year or even two can easily come and go if your home is not being sold in the right way.”
*Listing info correct at the time of the research
