Glasgow and Edinburgh properties sell faster than elsewhere in UK

Homes in Glasgow sold in just 16 days on average, followed by 17 days in Edinburgh while the UK average is 27 days.

Zoopla data compared the time it took to sell properties in 20 cities between 13 May and 13 August with the same period last year.

The property site found that properties in Edinburgh took 19 days longer to sell last year and 22 days longer in Glasgow, The Times reports. 

Richard Donnell, Zoopla’s research and insight director, said that sellers were continuing to enjoy high levels of demand after the housing market reopened on June 29 after the three months of the coronavirus lockdown.

He added: “The speed of sale is down to the market in Scotland reopening later than in England so pent-up demand has driven faster sales periods.”

Property experts have said that affordability in Glasgow and Edinburgh was continuing to attract interest from buyers in England in part thanks to a the cut in the land and buildings transaction tax on homes selling for up to £250,000.

Claire Flynn, spokeswoman for the Edinburgh Solicitors’ Property Centre, said inquiries were at their highest levels in years.

She added: “Our agents are reporting very high demand for property in Scotland and this high competition is resulting in offers being made and accepted very quickly.”