House hunters searching for a location with the ideal mix of safety and affordability should look no further than Rutland.
That’s according to research by estate agent Emoov.co.uk, which has pinpointed the East Midlands county as offering the best blend of low crime and attractive price tags.
Other UK locations benefiting from this perfect combination include West Somerset, Ryedale, Richmondshire and Purbeck, according to the analysis of crime statistics and house price data.
Meanwhile, property hunters keen to avoid budget-busting prices and high crime levels should steer clear of certain larger urban areas.
Those places offering the worst balance emerged as areas outside London, the City of Bristol, Brighton and Hove, Wiltshire, Cambridge and Leeds.
But if you simply cannot avoid the capital, Emoov recommended the borough of Sutton. Here property prices were below London’s average at £384,902 and crime levels were 110% lower than the capital’s average, the analysis found.
Russell Quirk, founder and CEO of Emoov said: “There is, of course, a direct correlation between the amount of crime in an area and the price homebuyers are willing to pay to live there.
“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, while city living also remains popular despite a higher tendency for crime in more populated urban environments.”
He added: “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.”
