New research from leading property portal, OnTheMarket, tracks the most active or ‘hottest’ areas of the country
Bradford was the leading property hotspot in the country between May and July, according to new research from OnTheMarket, a CoStar Group brand. The property portal’s latest Hotspots Index reveals that Bradford retained the top spot for the third report in a row, after topping the table between February and April 2025, and between November 2024 and January 2025.
The OnTheMarket Hotspots Index looks at the number of available sales properties over a three-month period, comparing that against the volume of onsite activity, creating a score that represents the intensity of interest in that area.
Coventry sees one of the largest increases in ranking, from 9th to 2nd position, driven by a spike of enquiries showing growing interest in the area. Stoke-on-Trent was a new entrant to the top ten, jumping to 9th from 12th. Meanwhile, Barnsley moved the other way, dropping out of the top ten to 15th position.
The ‘coldest’ spot was Brighton, swapping places with Southend-on-Sea, which rose three positions. Bristol drops eight positions, entering the bottom 10 for the first time.
Jason Tebb, president of the OnTheMarket, says: “Once again, the north/south divide is holding firm, with the top of the list dominated by some of the most vibrant and best-value locations in the north of England, where we find the most heat in terms of activity. Conversely, at the foot of the table the southern seaside towns with comparatively higher average property values are to be found, such as Worthing, Southend-on-Sea and Bournemouth.
“Despite five interest rate reductions in the past year, along with many lenders easing their criteria, the continued high cost of living means affordability is still a concern for many. As a result, buyers are favouring those locations where their money will go further. However, despite strong wage growth, average property values have also increased, making it difficult for many to bridge the gap.”
Other notable big movers in the index are Luton, which climbed to 11th in this report from 22nd in the previous period. Southampton jumped from 25th to 16th, while Slough leapt from 36th to 20th and Oxford from 30th to 17th place as interest increases. Meanwhile, Swindon went the other way, falling to 34th from 20th position.
London market hotspots
Across the London boroughs there were fewer fluctuations than nationally with Barking and Dagenham and the City of London switching places at the top. The composition of the top ten did not change at all, with a bit of shuffling of positions but no new entrants or dropouts.
At the foot of the table, Lambeth’s housing market was the least active of any London borough once again during May-July, consistent with its bottom-placed position in February-April and in November 2024-January 2025.
Gary Scargill, branch partner, haart, Dagenham, says: “Dagenham continue to attract strong interest from buyers thanks to its combination of affordability and excellent transport links. With four stations serving the area, residents are never far from direct connections into London. Freehold houses start from around £325,000, offering exceptional value compared to many neighbouring locations.
“The area also boasts plenty of recreational space, making it popular with families and those seeking a balanced lifestyle. Recent major developments, such as the opening of Eastbrook Studios, London’s newest and largest film and television studio campus, have further enhanced Dagenham’s profile and appeal, contributing to growing demand.”
Similar to the top ten, there was no change in the bottom ten London boroughs, though their rankings shifted slightly. Lambeth’s housing market saw the lowest intensity level of any London borough once again, consistent with its last-placed position in the previous two Hotspots Indices.
