Why you should ALWAYS check the crime rate before you decide to buy a house

Crime levels have a real impact on property prices according to new research, with a drop in crime resulting in a rise in house values.

If you’re looking to buy a new property then it is prudent to look at crime levels before you exchange, as new data shows that the safest places to live are also the safest places to invest.

Research by property buying company Good Move has found that in the 26 areas in the UK where crime fell between 2016 and 2017, 85% saw an increase in house prices.

The research, which draws on the latest police data as well as stats from the 2018 UK House Price Index, shows that the safer the area, the more attractive it is to prospective buyers.

The safest bets

Eden in Cumbria (pictured above) has seen the biggest correlation, with a 5.93% drop in crime coinciding with a 10.28% increase in house prices.

Wellingborough in Northamptonshire has also been revealed as a safe bet as a drop in reported crime has seen asking prices soar by 8.15%.

Area / District	Crime change between 2016/17 (ranked)	House price change (Dec 17 - Jan 18)
Craven	-12.32%	2.09%
Hambleton	-8.69%	1.83%
South Lakeland	-6.16%	2.66%
Eden	-5.93%	10.28%
York	-5.90%	-0.07%
Chesterfield	-4.84%	2.12%
High Peak	-4.74%	3.17%
North East Derbyshire	-4.30%	3.23%
Derbyshire Dales	-3.98%	2.05%
Wellingborough	-3.71%	8.15%

On the flip side, in areas where crime is on the up, house prices have fallen drastically with the City of London seeing a drop of 7.94% in property prices following a 14.80% rise in crime.

The sweet spots

A separate piece of research by estate agent Emoov has also pinpointed areas across England and Wales where low crime levels and low house prices combine to offer the safest, most affordable areas, with the county of Rutland in the East Midlands topping the list.

Other areas where potential buyers can be assured of affordable prices and low crime rates include West Somerset, Eden in Cumbria, Ryedale and Richmondshire in North Yorkshire, and Purbeck in Dorset. Here are the top ten areas for the best mix of low crimes and affordable property prices, according to Emoov's research:

Area	Crimes reported in 2017	% difference in crimes compared to Eng & W average	Average house price	% difference in house price to Eng & W average
Rutland	15,22	-1,203%	£297,320	20%
West Somerset	18,59	-966%	£215,630	-11%
Eden	24,41	-712%	£206,713	-15%
Ryedale	26,89	-637%	£238,321	0%
Richmondshire	29,24	-578%	£201,638	-18%
Purbeck	28,17	-604%	£332,357	28%
Craven	30,67	-546%	£208,570	-14%
West Devon	30,39	-552%	£250,893	5%
Melton	31,72	-525%	£206,795	-15%
Torridge	36,49	-443%	£224,135	-6%
England and Wales	*19,826 (Average not total)**	N/A	£238,336	N/A

“Unfortunately for many, the cost of getting on the ladder means they don’t have the luxury of considering crime rates when looking to buy," says Russell Quirk, founder and CEO of Emoov.co.uk. "City living also remains popular despite a higher tendency for crime in more populated urban environments."

“That said, the good news is that there are a number of areas across England and Wales with affordable price tags and a lower propensity for crime. As always, doing your research is key during the property buying process and can really help refine your search even before you reach the likes of Rightmove and Zoopla," he added.

You can check out crime levels in your prospective area at https://goodmove.co.uk/crime-time/