Not all homes are created equal when it comes to making a profit. Some are like a winning scratchcard, others more like finding a fiver in your old jeans.
We’ve dug into the data to see how much money sellers have been walking away with depending on whether they owned a flat, terrace, semi or detached house.
Across England and Wales, the average homeowner selling up made £72,000 profit. But whether you’re getting a champagne-level payout or more of a prosecco fizz depends a lot on what type of home you’re selling.
Property type | Avg gains during sale (£) | Avg gains during sale (%) | Avg time in property | Avg sold price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Flat | £27,000 | 15% | 9 years | £220,000 |
Terraced | £64,250 | 40% | 9 years | £236,000 |
Semi-detached | £80,000 | 44% | 9 years | £273,500 |
Detached | £122,500 | 45% | 9 years | £410,000 |
Detached homes: the jackpot
If you’re selling a detached house, congratulations - you’ve basically won the property lottery. Sellers of detached homes pocketed a cool £122,500 (45% gain from the original price) on average when they sold in the last 18
months. That’s a whopping 70% higher than today's national average gain.
Detached homes are flying off the market because they tick every box on today’s buyer wish list. Since the pandemic, space has become the ultimate luxury - buyers want gardens, home offices and room to breathe, not just four walls and a commute.
With fewer detached homes available and their reputation as the ultimate “dream home” upgrade, it’s no wonder they’re sparking plenty of competition when they hit the market.
Semi-detached homes: quietly solid performers
Semi-detached homes are the reliable middle child of the property world. Sellers made around £80,000 profit - not as jaw-dropping as detached homes, but still very healthy.
In percentage terms, semis grew 44% in value on average, which is actually not far behind detached homes. In other words, semis deliver bang for your buck.
Flats: the slow burners
Selling a flat? You’re likely to walk away with a more modest £27,000 profit, equivalent to about 15% above the original price.
That’s not pocket change…it’s still enough for a round-the-world trip, a decent deposit on your next home, or several very indulgent kitchen refits.
But flats have seen slower growth in recent years. Why? Buyers are more cautious post-pandemic, with many reassessing what they need from a home (hello, home offices and gardens). Higher mortgage costs have also put a dampener on demand in city centres.
The power of location for selling flats
If you own a flat in East Central London, you’re laughing. Sellers there made the most, especially those who held onto their homes for years in and around the City.
Regional cities also performed strongly, with flats in Brighton and Bristol bringing in gains of up to £35,000. Not bad considering some other regions have struggled to see much uplift at all.
But if you’re selling a house in certain London postcodes? Some sellers in West London made eye-watering profits of up to £305,000 on average. Yes, that’s more than many people’s entire mortgage.
