Haywards Heath, a commuter town in West Sussex, recorded the biggest annual asking price decline among commuter locations around six major UK cities, according to new research by Rightmove. Asking prices in the town fell by 4.8% in the 12 months to July 2026, reaching an average of £461,066.
Price falls across commuter hotspots
Rightmove studied how annual asking prices for homes in commuter locations around London, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff changed over the period. Maidenhead followed Haywards Heath with a 3.9% fall.
Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, said: “Our data highlights two very different stories playing out across some of Britain’s commuter markets.
“In the more affordable locations around Glasgow and Manchester, asking prices are rising strongly as buyers look for value within reach of major cities. Meanwhile, some of the more expensive commuter hotspots are seeing prices ease, which could create opportunities for buyers who may previously have been priced out.”
Access and appeal of Haywards Heath
Haywards Heath can reach East Croydon in 28 minutes on a Southern rail service and get into London Victoria or London Bridge in under 45 minutes. The town was named as one of the top 10 places for Londoners to move to by Leaders in 2022, with it being credited as "the ultimate town" and described as a "quiet and stylish" location.
A Leaders spokesperson said: "Haywards Heath is an extremely popular town, offering people the chance to enjoy quiet and stylish surroundings within easy reach of both London to the north and Brighton to the south. It boasts an excellent range of properties, including everything from modern apartments to large family homes."
London prices and commuter benefits
Many London commuter hotspots still have average asking prices of more than £500,000, Rightmove said, compared to London as a whole where it remains £646,451 over the last year - despite decreasing 3.1% annually. The average asking price was £777,789 in North London, £587,518 in South London, £531,765 in East London and £1,074,537 in West London.
Estate agents said commuter belt locations can provide attractive benefits for home buyers, including the potential to be close to work while also perhaps having access to local amenities, thriving local communities, and green spaces. Ian Harris, National Association of Estate Agents Propertymark president, said: "Since the pandemic, we’ve seen an initial reformatting of what many people want and need from the location they choose to live in.
“Initially, we saw many people embrace the concept of working from home and enjoying a lifestyle away from the traditional city commute.
“However, this is now a trend that is starting to swing back, with many people looking for a hybrid location that offers easy commuter access to key cities, while also providing a desirable mix of out-of-city amenities."
