Three-quarters of flats sold in England and Wales are now making a loss in real terms, according to analysis of Land Registry data.
For flat owners considering whether to sell, the headline raises an important question:
The UK flat market has become considerably more challenging. Flat prices have underperformed houses, service charges have increased, leasehold issues can make transactions more complicated and buyers have become increasingly selective.
But difficult does not mean impossible.
If you are thinking “I want to sell my flat”, understanding the market and preparing your property properly could make a significant difference.
The flat market has faced several challenges that have combined to put pressure on prices.
According to the latest UK House Price Index, the average price of a flat or maisonette in England was £217,000 in July 2026, down 3.5% compared with a year earlier.
Over the same period, detached, semi-detached and terraced houses all recorded annual price growth.
This growing gap between houses and flats has become one of the defining features of the UK property market.
Zoopla has reported that the price gap between houses and flats is now at its widest level for around 30 years.
So why are buyers becoming more cautious about flats?
There isn’t one single reason.
Several issues can affect the value and saleability of a flat.
Service charges have become an increasingly important consideration for buyers.
A flat might be advertised at £200,000, but a buyer could also face several thousand pounds a year in service charges.
If those charges are increasing significantly, buyers may decide that the total cost of owning the property is no longer attractive.
This can affect both demand and the price buyers are prepared to pay.
When someone buys a house, the transaction can often be relatively straightforward.
With a leasehold flat, there can be considerably more information to understand.
Buyers may want to know:
If these questions cannot be answered quickly, a potential buyer may become nervous.
One of the biggest problems when selling a flat can be the amount of information required during the conveyancing process.
A buyer might be happy with the property and agree the price, only for the transaction to become delayed because information about the lease, management company or service charges isn’t readily available.
This can lead to:
That is why preparing the leasehold information before marketing your property can be so important.
If you are considering selling your flat, the first step shouldn’t necessarily be putting it on Rightmove.
You should first understand exactly what you are selling.
A specialist assessment should consider:
The asking price needs to reflect the current market rather than what similar flats sold for several years ago.
Overpricing can be particularly damaging in a slower market.
The remaining lease term can have a significant impact on both value and mortgageability.
Buyers increasingly want to know exactly what they will be paying each year.
You should have up-to-date information available before marketing the property.
Ground rent and the terms of the lease can affect the attractiveness of a flat to potential buyers and their mortgage lenders.
If major works are planned, buyers need to understand the potential liability.
Failing to disclose important information early can create problems later in the transaction.
Having the relevant leasehold information available can help reduce delays once an offer has been accepted.
Some flats remain highly desirable, particularly where they have:
Other flats can be considerably more difficult to sell.
For example, a flat with a short lease, high service charges, major works pending or building safety concerns may attract a much smaller pool of buyers.
The important thing is to understand where your property sits within the market.
One of the biggest mistakes flat sellers can make is launching at an unrealistic asking price.
The thinking is understandable:
“Let’s put it on high and see what happens.”
But the longer a property remains unsold, the more difficult it can become.
Buyers may start asking:
“Why hasn’t this flat sold?”
A property that has been sitting on Rightmove for six months is harder to sell than a similar property that has just come to market at a realistic price.
That is why getting the pricing strategy right from the beginning is important.
A flat needs to be marketed to the right buyers with the right information.
Open Property Group understand that selling a leasehold property can involve considerably more complexity than selling a straightforward freehold house.
That’s why we have a specialist flat sales service.
Our specialists understand leasehold properties and the information buyers and solicitors need before they can proceed.
We can help obtain and review important information including:
If you need to sell your flat quickly, using an estate agent isn’t your only option.
Open Property Group is a professional property buying company that purchases properties directly.
Depending on the property and your circumstances, we may be able to make you a direct cash offer.
A direct sale can provide a different route to selling your property without relying solely on finding a conventional buyer.
Every seller has different priorities.
For some owners, achieving the highest possible price over a longer period will be the priority.
For others, speed, certainty and avoiding a long sales process may be more important.
At Open Property Group, we can discuss both options.
You can explore a traditional specialist sale through our flat sales service or find out whether we could make you a direct cash offer.
Don’t simply rely on an online valuation or an estate agent’s suggested asking price.
Get a realistic assessment based on your property’s location, condition, lease, service charges and current buyer demand.
Speak to Open Property Group today.
We can assess your property and explain your options, whether you want to sell through a specialist flat estate agency or explore a direct cash sale.
Find out what your flat could realistically sell for and whether we can help you achieve a sale.
Thinking about selling? We’ll buy your property quickly!
No estate agent fees, no solicitor fees and choose a sale date to suit you!
Get your instant CASH offer below