Number 13 homeowners selling for £36,000 less this Halloween

The latest market insight from London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has shown that the number 13 is certainly bad luck for home sellers this Halloween, with the average price paid for a Number 13 home coming in £36,000 below the wider market average.

Benham and Reeves analysed price paid data from the Land Registry, looking at the average sold price of homes so far this year (Jan to Aug 2024 – latest available) and how the price paid for homes with the Number 13 compares to the rest of the market.

The data shows that, across England and Wales, homes with the Number 13 have sold for an average of £260,000 in 2024. That’s 12.2% less than the average sold price across the wider market, which equates to a drop of £36,203 for the average Number 13 home seller.

The North East is seemingly home to the most superstitious homebuyers, with the average sold price for a Number 13 property coming in -22.1% below the wider market average – equating to a difference of over £35,000.

Across Yorkshire and the Humber (-21.3%) and Wales (-20.8%), the average price paid for a Number 13 home is also more than 20% below the average price paid across the wider market, equating to respective differences of £44,718 and £44,735 paid by buyers.

Other regions where the Number 13 will see sellers secure a lower price include the North West (-12.6%), East Midlands (-9.5%), East of England (-9.4%), West Midlands (-6.3%) and South East (-2.2%).

However, there are two regions where a Number 13 property will actually see buyers pay a premium.

In the South East, the average price paid for a Number 13 home comes in 0.8% above the wider market average, whilst in London this spooktastic house price premium climbs to 1.2%.

Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, commented:

“Superstitions aren’t to be scoffed at when it comes to potential put offs for homebuyers and we regularly see foreign buyers, in particular, place a great deal of importance on certain aspects of a home due to the superstitions they hold.

The Number 13 is a very common one and many buyers will purposely pass up on even viewing a home bearing the number. In fact, in some instances, the Number 13 will even be excluded from new property developments because it can be such a deterrent.

However, it’s interesting to see that in London especially, the Number 13 actually commands a premium versus the wider market. I’m not sure that it’s a case of London homebuyers being more obsessed with other worldly endeavours, more a case of them having no choice as for sale stock is so scarce across the capital.”