The headline figures
The UK House Price Index, published by HM Land Registry and the Office for National Statistics, is based on completed sales registered with the Land Registry. The figures for August 2026 were published on 21 October 2026. Recent months are provisional and are often revised as more sales are registered.
| Area (August 2026) | Average price | Change on a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | £310,176 | -1.9% |
| England | £294,000 | +0.4% |
| South West | £304,000 | Unchanged |
Source: UK House Price Index England: August 2026 (GOV.UK)
Source: Housing prices in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (ONS)
Prices by property type
| Property type | Average price, August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Detached | £551,000 |
| Semi-detached | £356,000 (roughly unchanged over the year) |
| Terraced | £292,000 |
| Flats and maisonettes | £197,000 (down 3.9%) |
Flats have been the weakest part of the local market. That matters in Bournemouth and Poole, where a large share of homes are flats.
First-time buyers and movers
First-time buyers paid an average of about £249,000 in August 2026, down 2.0% on a year earlier. Home-movers paid about £388,000, compared with £394,000 a year before.
How the year has moved
Across 2026 the local annual change has stayed negative but has narrowed and widened from month to month: -2.4% in February, -2.0% in March, -2.4% in April, -1.0% in May, -1.6% in June, -1.9% in July and -1.9% in August, using the figures published each month. England, by contrast, has seen small rises.
Rents
Average private rents in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole were about £1,400 a month in September 2026, up 2.2% on a year earlier. Across the South West the average was about £1,251, up 4.2%.
What it means if you're selling
- Price realistically. In a gently falling market, overpricing leads to long listings and later reductions.
- Expect buyers to negotiate, especially on flats and homes needing work.
- Watch for down-valuations. Lenders' valuers look at recent sales; if they're lower than your agreed price, the buyer's mortgage may fall short.
- Certainty has a value. If you need to sell by a date, a chain-free cash buyer removes most of the risks.
An average is just that. Prices on your road, for your type of home and its condition, can move differently. A local agent's valuation backed by recent sales is the best guide.
How to read these figures
- They're based on completed sales, registered with HM Land Registry, so they lag the market by a few months.
- Recent months are provisional and are often revised as more sales are registered.
- They're averages across the whole council area. A detached house in Canford Cliffs and a flat in Boscombe move very differently.
- Asking prices are not the same thing. Portal asking-price indices measure what sellers hope for, not what buyers pay.
What we're seeing as buyers
From our own conversations with sellers and agents this year, the properties that move quickly are well-presented family homes priced on recent evidence. Flats, homes needing work and properties with complications such as short leases, structural issues or probate take longer and are where most sales fall through. That matches the official figures, which show flats as the weakest part of the local market.
If you're selling one of those harder properties, pricing and certainty matter more than ever. Our guides to selling a house that needs work and what to do when a sale falls through may help.
We'll update these figures each quarter, using only the official UK House Price Index and ONS data.
How the area compares
Across England, the UK House Price Index showed average prices up 0.4% in the year to August 2026, at about £294,000. The South West was unchanged at about £304,000. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, at about £310,000 and down 1.9%, remains slightly above both averages but has been weaker over the past year.
Rents tell a different story. Average private rents in the area were about £1,400 a month in September 2026, up 2.2% on a year earlier, while the South West average rose 4.2% to about £1,251.
Source: Housing prices in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (ONS)
What it means for landlords and land owners
- Landlords: rising rents and softer prices can change the sums on whether to keep or sell. See the Renters' Rights Act and selling your rental.
- Owners of development land: new-home values feed directly into land values through a developer's residual valuation, so a flat market affects what buyers can pay.
- Executors: in a gently falling market, a realistic price and a certain buyer protect the estate from months of costs.
First-time buyers and home-movers
The ONS figures also split prices by type of buyer. In August 2026, first-time buyers in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole paid an average of about £249,000, down 2.0% on a year earlier. Former owner-occupiers moving home paid about £388,000, compared with about £394,000 a year before. Both groups saw small falls, in line with the overall market.
For sellers, this matters because it tells you who's buying. Flats and smaller homes depend heavily on first-time buyers and their mortgage offers; larger family homes depend on movers who often have their own sale to complete. Either way, a buyer who isn't relying on a mortgage or a chain can offer certainty when the market is soft.
What to do next
If you're thinking of selling in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole, get an agent's valuation and a cash offer, and compare what you'd actually receive and when. See how selling your property to us works, or read how long it takes to sell a house.
