REVEALED: the cheapest place in the UK to upsize

Looking for an extra bedroom? The cost of upsizing varies massively depending on where you buy. Here are the most affordable places to increase the size of your home.

Upsizing to a larger house in the UK costs an average of 44% extra per room, according to new research, however, some areas offer a much better deal than others.

Pulling data from the Land Registry and major home-buying platforms, estate agency comparison site GetAgent.co.uk looked at the average cost of properties, ranging from one to five beds, to discover how much asking prices jump for each additional bedroom and which places are the most affordable upsizing locations in the UK.

It found that the smallest price difference was between those looking to make the move from a one-bed to a two-bed (26%), while the largest difference affected those moving up from a four-bed to a five-bed property (a huge increase of 62%).

It’s not just the number of bedrooms that affects what you can expect to pay though, as a lack of housing stock also plays a part in the price of upsizing. The second-largest price hike was for buyers wanting to step up from a two-bed property to a three-bed (47%), with demand particularly high among growing families.

Location is also a major factor, with the smallest average increase between the cost of a one-bed and a two-bed found in Blackpool and Caerphilly (pictured above), with price increases of just 0.2%. Meanwhile, the cost of swapping a two-bed for a sought-after three-bed home is at its cheapest in Middlesbrough, with a 13% increase.

Cheapest places to move from a two-bed to a three-bed

Location	Average price increase from two-bed to three-bed
Middlesbrough	13%
North East Lincolnshire	17%
Caerphilly	19%
Western Isles	20%
Newham	23%
Castle Point	24%
South Gloucestershire	25%
Blackpool	26%

Of course, upsizing in London costs a lot more, with an average price increase of 52% per room – 8% more than the UK average. However, even the capital isn’t without its exceptions. Islington is actually home to the smallest increase in property prices between three-bed and four-bed homes, with a mere 3% jump.

The cheapest place in the UK to upsize Islington offers the smallest price jump for those moving from a three-bed to a four-bed. Image: Joe Dunckley/Shutterstock.

Average cost of upsizing in London

Category	Average asking price	Cost of upsizing
1 bed	£396,267	N/A
2 bed	£613,550	55%
3 bed	£977,475	59%
4 bed	£1,264,476	29%
5 bed	£2,058,532	63%
Average	1,062,060	52%

Colby Short, founder and CEO of GetAgent.co.uk said:

“More space is very sought-after resource particularly in the UK’s more built-up areas and as we reach life’s traditional mile markets, such as marriage and kids, many of us will look to upsize in order to accommodate our growing family.

“Unfortunately, this comes at a cost with the most expensive jump being the move from a two to a three-bed home. As a result, many are now choosing to expand their current property potential with a renovation or extension, but this might not necessarily add the value expected.

“Yes, an additional room is a plus and will command a higher price, but the reason we see such notable jumps in value between property thresholds is the overall size of a home, the extra bathrooms, the larger garden, the additional space for hosting guests.”

Average cost of upsizing in the UK

Category	Average asking price	Cost of upsizing
1 bed	£193,226	N/A
2 bed	£243,762	26%
3 bed	£357,858	47%
4 bed	£508,031	42%
5 bed	£822,770	62%
Average	£425,129	44%

Featured image: steved_np3