'Fits the profile': Leeds suburb named among UK's top property hotspots for 2026
A Leeds suburb has been named amongst the top housing hotspots in the UK, according to the latest annual research from property website Rightmove.
Seacroft, in the east of the city, has made it into the top 10 list of areas where property prices have risen the most over the past year.
The area secured the ninth spot in the UK-wide analysis, with average asking prices in Seacroft rising by nine per cent since January 2025, making the average price for a home in the suburb £218,893.
According to Rightmove, the 2026 data reveal a clear pattern: lower-priced areas have generally seen the highest price growth in the past year.
Of the 50 areas where housing prices have increased the most, 43 remain below the national average of £368,031. Across those top 50 areas, the average asking price is £270,711, around 26 per cent lower than the UK average.
Data also shows the growing appeal of suburbs and commuter towns that sit just outside major city centres, with many of the country’s strongest performing areas found on the edges of big cities.
Speaking on the property website, Lesley Robinson, branch manager at Manning Stainton Cross Gates, said: “Seacroft has seen notable growth in asking prices over the past year, reflecting a wider trend we’re observing across more affordably priced areas in Leeds.
“Buyers are increasingly drawn to locations that offer strong transport links and easy access to the city centre, and Seacroft fits that profile.”
Dan Mirfin, branch manager at Manning Stainton Beeston, added: “From our perspective on the ground, areas such as Beeston are seeing strong price growth because they sit at the intersection of affordability, connectivity and long-term demand.
“Beeston remains comparatively good value for money for first-time buyers, particularly when compared to more established suburbs closer to the city centre, while still offering excellent transport links into Leeds.”
Here are the top 10 UK property hotspots, ranked by average house price and price growth since January 2025:
- Hawick, Roxburghshire - £148,633 , up 18%
- Durham, County Durham - £251,339, up 15%
- Stannington, Sheffield - £264,078, up 12%
- Anfield, Liverpool - £132,178, up 11%
- Benton, Newcastle Upon Tyne - £231,693, up 11%
- Johnstone, Renfrewshire - £156,107, up 11%
- Anlaby, Hull - £256,305, up 10%
- Saffron Walden, Essex - £523,787, up 10%
- Seacroft, Leeds - £218,893, up 9%
- Orkney, Orkney Islands - £215,546, up 9%