Reviewed and updated: 17 October 2026. The original archive publication date is retained.
Hastings’ reviewed housing figures show sale prices and private rents moving in different directions. The distinction matters when assessing affordability or examining the assumptions behind a proposed letting. Neither index establishes a return for an individual purchase.
Official observations
The provisional average house price was £239,000 in July 2026, down 4.9% from a year earlier. First-time buyers paid an average of £203,000, compared with a revised £214,000 in July 2025. The mortgage-buyer measure was £243,000, an annual fall of 4.6%.
In contrast, average private rent was £1,007 a month in August 2026, up 1.6% from £992. Rental growth remained below the South East’s 3.0% annual increase.
Interpreting the figures locally
Use the Hastings authority series consistently rather than merging it with a neighbouring district. For a specific home, compare similar layouts and condition and identify expenses that will fall on its owner, including any shared-building obligations.
A lower average sale price does not demonstrate that a particular listing is discounted, while rental growth is not guaranteed for a new tenancy. The original archive yield percentage has therefore been removed. ONS advises looking beyond short-term local volatility, and the provisional price figures may be revised as more information becomes available.
This 17 October 2026 review uses later official evidence. It should not be read as information available at the original archive publication date; the original date and URL are retained.