Housing in Reading
Unitary authorityThe north west of the South East. 183,762 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 40 square kilometres.
17 layers about housing for Reading, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.
Sales per year by neighbourhood
Worked out by Open Index · 2025
Reading’s 100 neighbourhoods range from 4 to 75.
Average house price
CouncilReading’s average house price was £350,501 in August 2026.
That is 8% lower than South East and 28% higher than the UK average.
Prices fell 0.4% in the year to August 2026.
- Against South East
- 8% lower£379,953
- Against the UK
- 28% higher£273,037
House prices since 2000
Monthly average house price, smoothed. Reading’s is 3.3 times its 2000 level, slower than South East’s.
House price to pay
CouncilGreat Britain onlyA home in Reading costs 8.6 times local full-time pay.
Worked out by Open Index from the UK House Price Index and the ONS earnings survey.
Sold prices
PostcodeEngland and Wales onlyPublished as points, so there is no single figure for Reading. The map shows each one.
Average private rent
CouncilThe average private rent in Reading was £1,582 a month in September 2026.
That is 10% higher than South East and 13% higher than the UK average.
Rents in Reading rose 1.3% in the year to September 2026.
For average private rent, Reading is the 52nd most expensive of 316 in the UK.
- Against South East
- 10% higher£1,438
- Against the UK
- 13% higher£1,406
Rent since 2015
Monthly average private rent, smoothed. Reading’s is 1.5 times its 2015 level, in step with South East’s.
House sales per year
CouncilEngland and Wales only2,051 homes were sold in Reading in 2025.
Worked out by Open Index from HM Land Registry Price Paid Data.
Median sale price
CouncilEngland and Wales onlyThe median price paid for a home in Reading was £350,000 in 2025.
Worked out by Open Index from HM Land Registry Price Paid Data.
Annual price change
CouncilDetached house price
CouncilThe average price of a detached home in Reading was £714,640 in August 2026.
That is 5% higher than South East and 1.6 times the UK average for detached homes.
- Against South East
- 5% higher£682,708
- Against the UK
- 1.6 times£443,846
Flat price
CouncilThe average price of a flat in Reading was £224,077 in August 2026.
That is 7% higher than South East and 15% higher than the UK average for flats.
- Against South East
- 7% higher£208,529
- Against the UK
- 15% higher£194,148
Semi-detached house price
CouncilThe average price of a semi-detached home in Reading was £443,351 in August 2026.
That is 7% higher than South East and 1.6 times the UK average for semi-detached homes.
- Against South East
- 7% higher£415,956
- Against the UK
- 1.6 times£278,675
Terraced house price
CouncilThe average price of a terraced home in Reading was £353,126 in August 2026.
That is 9% higher than South East and 1.5 times the UK average for terraced homes.
- Against South East
- 9% higher£324,511
- Against the UK
- 1.5 times£232,505
House sales per month
Council130 home sales were recorded in Reading in June 2026.
Figures for the latest months are revised as more sales are registered.
One-bedroom private rent
CouncilThe average private rent for a home with 1 bedroom in Reading was £1,120 a month in September 2026.
That is 12% higher than South East and 2% lower than the UK average for the same size of home.
For one-bedroom rent, Reading is the 55th most expensive of 316 in the UK.
- Against South East
- 12% higher£1,000
- Against the UK
- 2% lower£1,140
Two-bedroom private rent
CouncilThe average private rent for a home with 2 bedrooms in Reading was £1,399 a month in September 2026.
That is 9% higher than South East and 9% higher than the UK average for the same size of home.
For two-bedroom rent, Reading is the 59th most expensive of 316 in the UK.
- Against South East
- 9% higher£1,284
- Against the UK
- 9% higher£1,287
Three-bedroom private rent
CouncilThe average private rent for a home with 3 bedrooms in Reading was £1,680 a month in September 2026.
That is 7% higher than South East and 17% higher than the UK average for the same size of home.
For three-bedroom rent, Reading is the 61st most expensive of 316 in the UK.
- Against South East
- 7% higher£1,566
- Against the UK
- 17% higher£1,438
Four-bedroom or larger private rent
CouncilThe average private rent for a home with 4 or more bedrooms in Reading was £2,365 a month in September 2026.
That is 6% higher than South East and 13% higher than the UK average for the same size of home.
For four-bedroom or larger rent, Reading is the 66th most expensive of 316 in the UK.
- Against South East
- 6% higher£2,231
- Against the UK
- 13% higher£2,089
Annual rent change
CouncilPrivate rents in Reading changed by 1.3% in the year to September 2026.
Reading is joint 28th weakest of 316 for annual rent change.
- Against South East
- 63% lower3.5%
- Against the UK
- 66% lower3.8%