HOUSE prices increased by 3.7per cent in St Helens in October, new figures show.

The boost contributes to the longer-term trend, which has seen property prices in the area achieve 15.6 per cent annual growth.

The average St Helens house price in October was £165,120, Land Registry figures show – a 3.7 per cent increase on September.

Over the month, the picture was better than that across the North West, where prices decreased 4.8 per cent, and St Helens outperformed the 1.1per cent drop for the UK as a whole.

St Helens Star:

Over the last year, the average sale price of property in St Helens rose by £22,000 – putting the area 14th among the North West’s 39 local authorities with price data for annual growth.

The best annual growth in the region was in Hyndburn, where property prices increased on average by 23.2per cent, to £123,000. At the other end of the scale, properties in Fylde gained just 7per cent in value, giving an average price of £216,000.

Winners and Losers

Owners of detached houses saw the biggest improvement in property prices in St Helens in October – they increased 4.4per cent, to £276,735 on average. Over the last year, prices rose by 17.8per cent.

Among other types of property:

Semi-detached: up 3.6% monthly; up 15.6per cent annually; £171,410 average

Terraced: up 3.6 per cent monthly; up 15 per cent annually; £127,271 average

Flats: up 3.4 per cent monthly; up 10.4 per cent annually; £92,432 average

First steps on the property ladder

First-time buyers in St Helens spent an average of £148,000 on their property – £20,000 more than a year ago, and £37,000 more than in October 2016.

By comparison, former owner-occupiers paid £185,000 on average in October – 25.4% more than first-time buyers.

How do property prices in St Helens compare?

Buyers paid 15.5per cent less than the average price in the North West (£195,000) in October for a property in St Helens. Across the North West, property prices are lower than those across the UK, where the average cost £268,000.

The most expensive properties in the North West were in Trafford – £334,000 on average, and twice as much as more than in St Helens.

St Helens Star:

Trafford properties cost three times as much as homes in Burnley (£112,000 average), at the other end of the scale.

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

Factfile

Average property price in October

  • St Helens: £165,120

The North West: £195,325

UK: £268,349

Annual growth to October

  • St Helens: +15.6%

The North West: +9.8%

UK: +10.2%

Best and worst annual growth in the North West

Hyndburn: +23.2%

Fylde: +7%