Sold-price evidence guide
The new-build premium: what buyers really paid
“New builds cost about 20% more” is the usual headline. HM Land Registry sales registered in 2025 (data through August 2026) broadly agree at the national level — median £345,000 for new builds against £280,000 for existing homes — but the premium almost disappears, or reverses, once you compare like with like.
The premium by property type (2025 registered sales)
Median sold prices, England & Wales. New build means the property was sold for the first time after construction, as flagged in the Land Registry record.
| Property type | New build median | Existing median | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | £409,972 | £420,000 | −2.4% |
| Semi-detached | £279,750 | £268,000 | +4.4% |
| Terraced | £256,000 | £225,000 | +13.8% |
| Flat / maisonette | £357,945 | £225,000 | +59.1% |
Three things stand out. New detached homes actually sold slightly below the existing detached median — new estates are often built where land is cheaper. The modest premium on semis and terraces is closer to what a like-for-like comparison looks like. And the huge flat gap is mostly a location-mix effect: new flats cluster in London and city centres, existing flat sales span the whole country and much older stock.
How to judge a new-build price in practice
- 1. Find resales on the same development. The most honest benchmark for a new home is what the previous phase resold for. Search the street or postcode page for the development and look for repeat sales.
- 2. Compare with nearby existing streets of similar size. A three-bed new terrace against three-bed existing terraces within the same outcode, not against the whole town average.
- 3. Treat incentives as price. Deposit contributions, upgrades and paid stamp duty are part of the effective price you pay — but they will not appear in the registered sold price, which can make development prices look stronger than buyers’ net cost.
- 4. Think about the resale buyer. When you sell, your home competes with the developer’s newer phases nearby. Check how earlier phases have actually resold before assuming the premium survives.
Important limitation
These are national medians of registered sales, not quality-adjusted comparisons of identical homes. They describe what sold, not what any specific property is worth. This is not a valuation or financial advice.
Check new-build-heavy markets
Towns with large volumes of recent development, where the comparison matters most:
Frequently asked questions
How much more expensive are new builds in the UK?
In sales registered in 2025, the median new-build sale was £345,000 against £280,000 for existing homes — about 23% higher overall. But the gap varies hugely by type: new flats sold at a much higher median than existing flats, while new detached homes actually had a slightly lower median than existing detached homes.
Do new builds lose value when you move in?
Some of the headline premium reflects specification, energy efficiency, incentives and location mix rather than pure markup, and part of it may not be recovered on resale. The honest answer is that it depends on the local market — compare new-build sold prices with nearby existing-home sales before you buy.
Why do new flats show such a large premium over existing flats?
New flat sales are concentrated in city-centre and London developments with higher price points, while existing flat sales include a much wider range of older stock across the whole country. Some of the gap is location and specification mix, not a like-for-like premium.
How can I check the new-build premium in a specific area?
Open the town, district or postcode page for the location and compare recent sales on the same development or street with older streets nearby. Land Registry records flag whether each sale was a new build.
Are new builds more energy efficient?
Generally yes. New homes are built to current building regulations and typically achieve EPC ratings of B or above, which matters more as minimum energy standards tighten for rented homes towards 2030.