Where to Find Historical UK House Price Charts: Official Sources Compared

Tracking UK House Prices Over Time: Your Go-To Sources

Whether you're a buyer, seller, investor, or researcher, accessing reliable historical house price data is essential. The UK benefits from several authoritative indices, each with its own methodology and strengths. Here's where to find the most credible charts and data.

1. UK House Price Index (Official Government Statistics)

Published by: Office for National Statistics (ONS) on behalf of HM Land Registry, Registers of Scotland, and Land & Property Services Northern Ireland.

Key features:

• Monthly publication with data back to 1995
• Based on completed sales (not asking prices)
• Covers all residential transactions including cash purchases
• Breakdowns by region, country, property type, buyer status (first-time/former owner-occupier), and new build vs existing
• Seasonally adjusted and non-seasonally adjusted series
• Free to access via the GOV.UK website

This is the most comprehensive official measure and the primary source for government policy decisions.

2. Nationwide House Price Index

Published by: Nationwide Building Society (since 1952).

Key features:

• Longest-running continuous monthly index (data from 1952)
• Based on mortgage approvals (not completions), so it's a leading indicator
• Covers owner-occupier mortgages only (excludes buy-to-let and cash)
• Regional and property type breakdowns
• Available on Nationwide's website with interactive charts

Excellent for spotting turning points early, though less comprehensive than the official index.

3. Halifax House Price Index

Published by: Halifax (part of Lloyds Banking Group, since 1983).

Key features:

• Monthly index based on Halifax's own mortgage approvals
• Similar coverage to Nationwide (owner-occupier mortgages)
• Regional and property type analysis
• Often shows slightly different trends due to different customer base
• Available via Halifax's website and Lloyds Banking Group media centre

Other Useful Sources

• Land Registry Price Paid Data: Raw transaction-level data for every registered sale in England and Wales (free download)
• Rightmove/Zoopla House Price Indices: Based on asking prices—useful for sentiment but not actual transaction values
• RICS Residential Market Survey: Monthly sentiment survey from chartered surveyors
• Bank of England Mortgage Statistics: Lending volumes and approvals data

Which Should You Use?

For official, comprehensive data → UK House Price Index (ONS)
For long-term historical trends → Nationwide (data from 1952)
For early market signals → Nationwide or Halifax (mortgage approval-based)
For granular local research → Land Registry Price Paid Data

Most serious analysts cross-reference multiple sources to build a complete picture.