he autumn property market has produced a more encouraging headline for South Yorkshire homeowners. Rightmove's average new asking price in Yorkshire and the Humber increased by 1.3% in September, taking the regional average to £259,162.
Nationally, asking prices rose by 0.7% to £367,440, the first monthly increase since May and slightly stronger than the normal September rise.
That sounds positive, and it is a welcome sign of returning seller confidence. But it does not mean buyers have lost their negotiating power. The number of homes available nationally is at a 12-year seasonal high, buyer enquiries remain 9% below last year and average fixed mortgage rates increased sharply again during the latest week.
The autumn opportunity is real, but sellers still need to compete on price, presentation and value.
What the September Rightmove figures actually measure
Rightmove measures the asking prices selected by newly listing sellers. It does not measure agreed prices or completed Land Registry sales.
For September 2026:
Rightmove measure
National asking price
September £367,440
August £364,999
National monthly change
September +0.7%
August -2.0%
National annual change
September-0.8%
August -1.0%
Yorkshire and Humber asking price
September £259,162
August £255,956
Yorkshire and Humber monthly change
September+1.3%
August-1.5%
Yorkshire and Humber annual change
September+0.2%
August+0.9%
Regional time to find a buyer
September 64 days
August 62 days
The regional monthly bounce followed August's seasonal fall. Annual growth, however, slowed to only 0.2%, while the average time needed to secure a buyer increased to 64 days.
Rightmove also reports that 74% of homes sold so far in 2026 did not require an asking-price reduction. That does not prove that every correctly priced property will sell, but it strongly supports getting the launch position right rather than relying on a later reduction.
Fresh completed-sale evidence across South Yorkshire
The July UK House Price Index provides a separate, lagging view based on completed transactions. All four South Yorkshire authorities remained positive annually:
Rotherham
July average price - £191,000
Annual change +1.7%
First-time-buyer average £172,000
August average rent £686
Barnsley
July average price £176,000
Annual change +3.5%
First-time-buyer average £157,000
August average rent £696
Doncaster
July average price £172,000
Annual change +4.7%
First-time-buyer average £156,000
August average rent £694
Sheffield
July average price £220,000
Annual change +2.8%
First-time-buyer average £194,000
August average rent £931
England's annual growth rate was 1.1%, while Yorkshire and the Humber recorded 3.0%. South Yorkshire therefore remains comparatively resilient, although the local figures are provisional and based on smaller transaction samples.
Annual growth slowed from the previous publication in Rotherham, Barnsley and Sheffield, while Doncaster strengthened slightly. This is one reason not to apply a headline percentage directly to an individual home.
A property's value still depends on its exact location, type, size, condition and the homes competing for the same buyers today.
Family homes remain the clearest local property-type signal
The July figures show:
Rotherham semi-detached prices up 2.3% annually
Barnsley semi-detached prices up 4.2%
Doncaster terraced prices up 5.3%
Sheffield semi-detached prices up 3.7%
This is supportive evidence for attainable family and first-time-buyer stock. However, it is not a live weekly measure of viewings or offers. School access, parking, gardens, usable space and move-in condition still determine how an individual property compares.
Bank Rate stayed at 3.75%—but the outlook became more cautious
The Bank of England held Bank Rate at 3.75% on 17 September by a vote of six to three. The other three members preferred an increase to 4%.
The decision followed an increase in CPI inflation from 2.9% in July to 3.1% in August. The Bank said inflation risks had moved further to the upside and indicated that inflation could rise slightly above 4% in early 2027 if current energy-price assumptions persist.
Holding Bank Rate did not stop fixed mortgage pricing from increasing. Fixed rates reflect financial-market expectations and lenders' funding costs, not only the current Bank Rate.
Mortgage costs are the main counterweight to the autumn bounce
Rightmove's mortgage tracker, updated on 19 September, showed:
Average two-year fix
19 September 5.42%
12 September 5.19%
Weekly change +0.23 percentage point
Average five-year fix
19 September 5.43%
12 September 5.20%
Weekly change +0.23 point
95% LTV two-year fix
19 September 5.98%
12 September 5.78%
Weekly change +0.20 point
90% LTV two-year fix
19 September 5.55%
12 September 5.33%
Weekly change +0.22 point
75% LTV two-year fix
19 September 5.30%
12 September 5.05%
Weekly change +0.25 point
The lowest advertised two-year rate was 4.55%, but lowest rates are not available to every borrower and may include fees.
For buyers, the practical step is to refresh affordability before viewing or offering. For sellers, it means an interested buyer may no longer be able to stretch to the figure they expected several months ago.
What should South Yorkshire sellers do now?
The September market offers more opportunity than the summer slowdown, but a 1.3% regional asking-price increase is not permission to overvalue.
Use close comparable evidence. Start with the property, street and buyer audience—not the regional headline.
Choose the right portal bracket. A small change can place the home inside or outside a buyer's saved search.
Make the launch count. Strong photography, video, floorplans and clear property information help buyers shortlist confidently.
Review the first 10–14 days. Views without enquiries can indicate a price or presentation problem. Viewings without offers may reveal condition, competition or expectation issues.
Price changes must be meaningful. If a review is needed, aim to reach a new buyer audience rather than making a cosmetic adjustment.
What should buyers do?
Update your mortgage agreement in principle and calculate repayments using a rate you can access—not the lowest headline rate. Factor in improvements, running costs and survey findings before deciding what you can comfortably offer.
The amount you can sustain each month matters more than trying to predict the next Bank of England decision.
Thinking about moving?
The market is neither collapsing nor racing away. South Yorkshire prices remain comparatively resilient, but buyers have choice and borrowing costs are demanding.
If you are considering selling in Rotherham or elsewhere across South Yorkshire, I can help you assess the closest comparable evidence, current competition and the launch strategy most likely to create genuine interest.
Visit www.darylhorsfall.com or contact me for a straightforward, evidence-led conversation.
Source note
Rightmove September 2026 House Price Index
Rightmove mortgage tracker, updated 19 September 2026
Bank of England September 2026 decision
ONS August 2026 inflation
UK House Price Index, July 2026
ONS local housing data: Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield
Disclaimer
This article provides general property-market commentary using information available on 21 September 2026. Asking-price and local-authority averages are not valuations of individual homes. Mortgage products and eligibility can change, and this is not financial, legal or tax advice. Seek personalised advice from appropriately qualified professionals.