"Fixer-uppers offer the potential to buy below market value and add equity over time, whether through DIY updates or more substantial renovation work. It’s a chance not only to save at the point of purchase but to build long-term value"
- Steve Foreman - The Property DriveBuy
New analysis from The Property DriveBuy shows that demand for renovation-ready homes is outstripping general market activity as buyers increasingly seek affordable routes onto the property ladder amid high mortgage rates and gradual house price growth.
Across England, there are an estimated 601,525 homes currently listed for sale. Of these, around 223,280 have already been sold subject to contract (SSTC), placing overall buyer demand at 37.1%. Regionally, demand reaches a high of 41.7% in the North West, followed closely by Yorkshire and Humber at 41.3%.
However, The Property DriveBuy’s review of fixer-upper listings reveals that appetite for homes requiring renovation is far stronger than the market average.
An estimated 40,919 fixer-upper properties are listed for sale across England, with 20,522 already SSTC. This means fixer-upper demand stands at 50.2%. In the North West, this figure rises to 52.9%, followed by the South East (52%), West Midlands (51.8%), East of England (51.3%), and Yorkshire and Humber (51.1%).
Although interest in renovation projects is high, such properties remain a small share of available homes. Fixer-uppers account for just 5.4% of England’s market. They are most common in Yorkshire and Humber, where they make up 6.8% of listings, followed by the South West (6.7%) and the North East (6%).
For buyers searching for the greatest number of renovation opportunities, the South East offers the largest selection, with more than 4,000 fixer-uppers—around 19.8% of the national total. London follows with 15.8%, the South West with 15.4%, and the East of England with 11.3%.
“Fixer-uppers are becoming an increasingly attractive route onto the ladder, especially for first-time buyers looking for a more affordable entry point in today’s market,” said Steve Foreman, founder and CEO of The Property DriveBuy. “With inflation remaining stubbornly above the Bank of England’s target, the drop in mortgage rates that many had hoped for simply hasn’t materialised. As a result, monthly repayments remain a key concern, and buyers are increasingly turning to lower-priced project properties as a way to reduce upfront costs and future-proof their investment.
“Fixer-uppers offer the potential to buy below market value and add equity over time, whether through DIY updates or more substantial renovation work. It’s a chance not only to save at the point of purchase but to build long-term value."
“But what’s particularly interesting is that many buyers don’t start their search looking for a fixer-upper, they often stumble upon one by accident. It’s usually the unexpected listings that spark the most interest, where buyers recognise the potential and are inspired by the idea of transforming a space into something uniquely theirs.
“At The Property DriveBuy, we believe rigid search filters and tick-box criteria can actually limit what buyers discover. Our real-time, location-based alerts are designed to surface hidden opportunities, like the perfect fixer-upper just around the corner. Because sometimes, you don’t really know what you’re looking for until it finds you.”
