Private renting has grown across every UK region over the last 40 years, but the scale and pace are often misunderstood. This graphic shows how uneven that growth has been, shaped largely by the decline in social housing. Understanding this shift helps explain today’s housing balance and the choices ahead.

With plans announced to raise the council tax surcharge on higher-value homes, this snapshot looks at how many £2m-plus properties have actually sold across the UK this year. The data shows a highly concentrated market, dominated by London, and reveals just how small this sector is nationally despite the noise around a “mansion tax.”

This map highlights the average size of homes sold across the UK since 2020, measured in square feet from completed sales. What stands out is how little the averages vary between regions, despite very different housing types. Northern Ireland is the clear exception, with noticeably larger homes on average.

The semi-detached home remains Britain’s most loved housing type, shaping family life for generations. This article explores how the value of semis varies widely across the UK, from London’s seven-figure prices to far more attainable regions, and why their emotional pull remains as strong as ever.