Britain’s best home renovations: A decade of success stories - does your house number or street name make the list?

Over the past decade, British homeowners have navigated a rollercoaster of economic pressures, from soaring mortgage rates to the cost of living crisis, all while house prices have continued to rise. But what if a property’s value is influenced by factors far beyond its size or spec?

A groundbreaking new study carried out by our interior experts has uncovered the hidden, “uncontrollable” factors that shape a home’s worth. The research reveals that a property’s value isn’t just about the bricks and mortar; its house number, street name, and location can all play a surprising role.

To uncover these insights, our team of researchers analysed housing data across England and Wales from the last 10 years. The study examines which house numbers have experienced the most significant increases and decreases in value, the streets where property prices have performed well or struggled, and the towns and cities that have delivered the highest returns on investment for homeowners.

To establish a benchmark for the average home and its increase in value over the past ten years, the study analysed all properties sold in England and Wales by their respective house numbers. Each house number represents the average of all homes that share the same number and were sold in both 2014 and 2024.

The findings reveal that the average house price in England and Wales rose from £221,939 in 2014 to £312,800 in 2024, which equates to a staggering 41% increase in value (£90,861). The results that follow will now examine the outliers at the very top and bottom of the table to see if any broader trends can be identified.

Some house numbers were found to skyrocket in average value over the ten years. The top-performing house number was No. 281, which saw a staggering 512% increase in average value, rising from £237,567 in 2014 to over £1.45 million in 2024.

This was followed by No. 331, which saw a whopping 471% increase in average value (from £226,019 to £1,290,000), and No. 457 with a 291% increase (from £204,519 to £800,000). In fact, all house numbers in the top 10 saw a rise of 200% or more, and more widely, all houses in the top 15 saw an increase of 185% or more.

The tremendous growth in value of these top-performing properties is most likely due to a small number of premium, high-value homes that have benefited from large-scale renovations or have been newly developed over the past 10 years, gaining disproportionately from broader market trends.

At the bottom of the list, some house numbers saw a dramatic decrease in value. House No. 697 plummeted in average value by 83%, falling from £506,421 in 2014 to just £85,000 in 2024. This was followed by No. 945, which saw a 76% decrease in average value, and No. 527, which also fell by 75%. In fact, all the house numbers at the bottom of the table saw a decrease in value of over 50%.

The reasons for such sharp declines in house values are most likely specific to individual properties, which lowers the average. Such a significant drop in house value over ten years is often due to several factors, including:

- Location-specific issues, including environmental factors, such as a property’s increased risk of flooding.

- Poor maintenance, such as neglect or damage, may have occurred, possibly due to a fire.

- Invasive species, including highly destructive plants like Japanese knotweed, are on the property grounds.

The study found a surprising truth in the old superstition that ‘number 13 is unlucky for some’. As for homeowners of properties with this number, the data certainly supports this.

Homes with ’13’ in their number saw an average increase in value of 30% between 2014 and 2024, which is just over 10% lower than the overall average (41%). In fact, some homes were hit particularly hard: properties at No. 313 experienced a 4.27% decrease in value, while those at No. 813 saw their value drop by a worrying 21.77%.

Nearby schools and desirable neighbourhoods are factors we’re well familiar with that influence house prices, but can street names also be playing a role in the postcode lottery?

Topps Tiles analysed average street property price rises between 2014 and 2024 to find out. For context, the average property value of a street in England and Wales increased from £248,591 in 2014 to £355,662 in 2024, a rise of 43% (£107,071). This sits slightly higher than the average house price per house, a reflection of the premium certain postcodes can add to a home’s value.

Our study highlights that certain streets in England and Wales are experiencing a significant increase in value. At the top of the rankings, St Marks Square sits proudly with a 13,730% increase in average value, rising from just £94,000 in 2014 to a staggering £13,000,000 in 2024. This was followed by Cliff Park Road, which came in second with a whopping 8,686% increase, from £7,000 to £615,000, and Cardigan Place in third with a 6,785% increase, from £61,000 to £4,200,000.

While these figures are impressive, the exceptionally low house prices of some streets in 2014 require context. Such a dramatically low price is often the result of a single property on the street being sold at a very low cost. This is frequently the case when a home is sold as a gift to a relative or at auction in a state of disrepair. If these properties are then resold to the public in 2024, the percentage increase may be enormous after significant renovations.

At the opposite end of the rankings, some streets saw a steep decline in average property value from 2014 to 2024.

Hillsleigh Road saw a dramatic 97.18% decrease in average property value, falling from £2,657,500 to £75,000. This was followed by Kensington Square, with a 96.97% decrease, and Branscombe Gardens, with a 96.41% decrease. These significant drops are likely due to the redevelopment of single, large properties into multiple smaller units.

Away from the ‘extreme’ ends of these findings, the study assessed overarching trends across all streets in the study to identify features that positively influenced property prices over the past ten years.

We analysed house prices on streets with names that reference royalty, specifically those containing the words ‘Queen’ and/or ‘Elizabeth’ (e.g., Queen Street) versus those containing ‘King’ and/or ‘Charles’ (e.g., King’s Road).

In 2014, properties on ‘Queen’ streets were highly valued, with an average price of £363,177, £114,586 more than the average house price on any street that year. However, a decade later, the narrative shifted. By 2024, the average cost of property on ‘Queen’ streets had risen, but not significantly, to £409,495, just £53,833 more than the average house price on any street that year. This represents an increase of 13%, 30% less than the average increase per street between 2014 and 2024.

Conversely, the value of streets with reference to the King has thrived. In 2014, properties on ‘King’ streets were worth £259,932, just £11,341 more than the average property price per street. By 2024, their average value had increased to £369,080, £13,418 more than the average that year. Marking a 42% increase in their value.

This trend aligns with the national mood following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. The ascension of King Charles III in September 2022 has coincided with a boom in value for properties on ‘King’ and ‘Charles’ streets, perhaps driven by the fresh royal narrative and the positive psychological associations of a new reign.

Beyond the royal findings, the study also examined how house values on street names that reference green space and those that reference water performed over the past decade.

Homes on streets that reference green space, such as ‘Meadow Lane’, saw a solid average increase of 67% (£119,981), which is 24% more than the average increase across all street names.

In contrast, the average value for homes on streets with names that reference water, such as ‘Marine Avenue’, increased by 56% (£97,151); a figure that trails behind “green” streets, but still sits 13% above the average property value increase per street.

Commonly, street names that reference features like a ‘meadow’ or a ‘ford’ often indicate that one is nearby. This data therefore suggests that the enduring ‘race for space’ post-pandemic has seen homeowners prioritise proximity to natural spaces. While homes on streets with names that reference water performed better than the average, they did not perform as well as their “green” counterparts. This could be an early indicator of growing public concern over the increasing risk of flash flooding and other climate-related issues, which may be dampening the appeal of properties near rivers and floodplains.

Beyond individual properties and street names, the study also analysed the average property prices of towns and cities across England and Wales to provide insight into the locations truly on the rise, finding that the average property price rose by 38% (£87,153), from £231,403 to £318,556.

The Cornish town of Padstow saw a colossal 358% increase in house value, with its average house price soaring to over £1.27 million from £277,606. Fellow Cornish town Boscastle followed with a 209% increase, from £210,167 to £649,129, while Keston in Greater London saw a 194% rise, from £728,105 to a whopping £2,141,250.

The data revealed that all towns and cities in the top 15 experienced a house price increase of over 125% and are concentrated in the South-West of England and Wales. Given that seven of these towns are located by the sea, it’s likely that second-home buyers fuel a significant portion of these inflated figures at these desirable seaside destinations.

Meanwhile, some locations experienced significant price drops. Windlesham in Surrey saw prices drop by 60%, falling from £469,196 to just £190,000. It was followed by Appleby-in-Westmorland, which saw a 48% decrease from £149,118 to £77,500, and Much Hadham, with a 43% drop in average house prices, from £334,115 to £192,000.

The reasons for these declines are varied, but can include a limited number of high-value sales in 2024 or a local market slowdown. In contrast to the top-performing towns and cities, the vast majority of the lowest-performing towns are located in inland areas.

The study also revealed a shift in the traditional north-south divide, with properties in northern towns and cities seeing an average price increase of 43%, compared to 38% in the South, the study’s average across towns in England and Wales.

This indicates that the North is rapidly closing the value gap and offers promising opportunities for homeowners and investors. Despite this rapid growth, the average property price in northern towns and cities is still £152,399 less than in the South, and £80,271 less than the UK average, suggesting that the North offers better value for money and a higher potential for future returns.

While location, street name, and even your house number can impact value, the power to boost your home’s worth remains primarily in your hands. Renovations, big and small, are proven to be one of the smartest investments a homeowner can make.

To help homeowners take control of their property’s value, our in-house Style Consultant, Harriet Goodacre, has provided her advice on surefire ways to add value to property, regardless of the ‘uncontrollable factors’ this study has shed light on.

The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home, a space for feeding the family and entertaining guests. For this reason, kitchen renovations frequently offer one of the highest returns on investment (ROI). This can be achieved through budget-friendly updates or more extensive projects.

Spruce Up: £
Even minor work can lead to a significant improvement in house value. Replacing tired countertops, cupboard doors, splashbacks, or flooring—whether with modern porcelain or Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT)—can breathe new life into a tired kitchen. Minor updates of this sort might cost around £4,000, but according to statistics, they could add up to £17,000 to the house value.

Level Up: £££
For homes selling at a higher price point, buyers expect ‘showstopper’, quality kitchens. Renovations should therefore focus on premium finishes and materials, such as feature splashbacks and hardwood flooring. Hardwood floors, due to their longevity and timeless appeal, can boost a house’s value by 5-7%.

While bathrooms aren’t considered a social space in polite society, much like kitchens, they need to be functional and comfortable for family and guests. Bathrooms can also age quickly and poorly; hence, bathroom renovations are widely considered the second-best home improvement for ROI.

MakeOver: £
If your current bathroom fixtures and fittings are worn, outdated, or avocado green, a refresh can add up to 4% to the value of your home, with a typical return of 67%. Light and bright is key to widespread appeal, so freshening up the walls with a fresh coat of paint can also be very effective.

Make Space: ££
For houses that lack a downstairs WC, converting any wasted space into a small toilet will prove fruitful. Work of this kind can also be achieved on a modest budget. According to research, installing a downstairs toilet for just £1,500 could add approximately £26,000 to your home’s value. And whilst avocados are still out, it’s worth noting that colourful basins and sanitary ware are absolutely back in!

Adding extra bedrooms and living space to properties is a proven way to increase value. However, extending outwards can be at the expense of that oh-so-desirable garden space. Loft conversions, therefore, are often a clever way of adding value to your property and levelling up your house.

Prove Potential: £
Not got the budget for a loft conversion? Not to worry. Obtaining planning permission for potential future developments can significantly boost your property’s appeal. Buyers seeking quick renovation projects are often willing to pay to bypass paperwork. A basic planning application costs up to £400, but can boost property value by as much as 10%.

Reach Potential: £££
Unlocking this extra floorspace magics up a whole realm of possibilities: extra bedrooms, bathrooms, or even a home office. A study found that converting a loft to add another bedroom and en-suite can boost the value of a £250,000 home by approximately 16%, reaching nearly £300,000.

While this study demonstrates that some factors influencing a home’s value are outside of the homeowner’s control, many are not. A carefully planned renovation, whether it’s a complete kitchen overhaul or a simple bathroom refresh, is a smart way to invest in a property and secure a greater return when the time comes to sell.

Renovations are considered the prime reason why top-performing house numbers saw their value skyrocket from 2014 to 2024. Our renovation advice will help put you in control of your property’s value, so that your house’s number rises through the ranks by 2034.

We conducted a data-led study to uncover the surprising factors that affect house prices by analysing ten years of data from HM Land Registry (HMLR), comparing average house prices in 2014 with those in 2024.

By calculating the price and percentage increase over these 10 years, the research reveals how a property’s value is influenced by three key factors: house number, street name, and location. The study’s comprehensive analysis of the HMLR data provides valuable insights into what truly drives home value in England and Wales.