Bath residential property market: research and insight on residential values, trends and forecasts
Nestled amongst limestone hills in the valley of the River Avon, Bath houses a rich cultural heritage. The city boasts strong transport links, connecting to major UK cities, alongside a plethora of leisure activities and attractive shops, adding to the appeal for buyers and renters. Bath’s varied architecture offers a ranging portfolio of properties, from Georgian and Regency flats and houses to contemporary villas and new build homes.
Local prices
The average second hand sale price of properties in Bath was £580,589 over the year to November 2024, according to the Land Registry. Compared with neighbouring boroughs, this is higher than neighbouring Wiltshire (£365,433) and South Gloucestershire (£358,576). Notably, property prices were 47% higher on average than those in the city of Bristol, where property prices averaged £394,026.
Average second hand sale prices across Bath, 12 months to November 2024
Across Bath and its surrounding areas, the highest value neighbourhoods fall within the BA1 postcode district, were properties average £603,660. Across Bath and North East Somerset, the local authority where Bath is located, property values average £504,059, having increased by 25.4% over the five years to November 2024.
Focusing on Bath’s surrounding areas, the highest value area is the village of Freshford, where property values average £922,037. In other nearby towns and villages such as Swainswick, Farmborough and Clutton, values range between £375,500 and £898,000.
Average second hand house price, by civil parish
Prime sales market
Confidence is returning to prime regional markets across the UK, as mortgage rates improve and inflation continues to stay within tolerable limits.
Prime prices across Bath and its surrounding areas fell by -0.1% over the first three months of 2025, a mild uptick on the previous quarterly movement (-0.2%), but down on the same period in 2024 (0.9%). Annual price growth averaged out at -0.5% in the 12 months to Q1 2025, an improvement on falls of -1.8% over the same annual period to Q1 2024, despite representing a slowdown compared with 2023 (0.2%).
Since September 2022, financial pressures and economic uncertainty have impacted market conditions. As a result, prices have fallen by -2.6% since Q3 2022. However, overall house prices remain up 18.2% since December 2019, pre-pandemic, higher than the 10.9% average across the wider South, the region the local area falls into.
Bath and its surrounding areas typically attract needs-based, domestic buyers looking to relocate or upsize. As such, 72% of Savills buyers in the local area over 2024 were comprised of either upsizers or relocators.
Prime lettings market
Across the Cotswolds & South West regions, prime rents grew by 0.7% over the first three months of 2025, an increase on -0.9% observed over the final three months of 2024.
This mild increase in the rate of rental growth can be attributed to changing market conditions, namely the return of seasonal renter movements, which had shifted during the pandemic. The region also holds an appeal to international and professional relocators. As such, rental growth averaged out at 2.1% over the year to Q1 2025, higher than the 0.5% recorded over the same period to Q1 2024.
This market typically attracts those looking to upsize or relocate, favouring the lifestyle that this region offers. While affordability pressures have meant that some tenants have become more conscious of their budgets, demand from families remains strong. As a result, larger three bedroom properties saw the greatest rental increases over the year to Q1 2025. Over this period, values for three bedroom properties grew by 3.3%, compared with 1.8% for 1 or 2 bedroom homes.
Outlook
Overall, the prime regional markets are witnessing improved sentiment as mortgage rates and economic conditions continue to stabilise.
Throughout 2025, we expect price growth across the prime regional markets to be driven by additional base rate cuts. Reduced mortgage rates and improved sentiment is expected to drive demand in those areas with more debt-reliant buyers.
Additionally, whilst the SDLT surcharge for second homes announced in the Budget may temper growth in some markets where the purchase of second homes is more prevalent, we continue to forecast positive growth of 18.2% across the prime regional market over the five years to 2029.
For the prime rental market, we continue to expect demand to be informed by the balance between supply and demand. A shift in market sentiment, with increased regulation in the form of the Renters’ Rights Bill, has prompted some uncertainty from landlords and will put upwards pressure on rents, as supply becomes more limited. However, our five year forecasts remain robust, anticipating 12.6% rental growth over the prime regional rental market over the period to 2029.
Savills Bath track record
Six properties we sold and let in your area
SOLD
Springfield Place, Bath
Guide Price £2,250,000