A FARNHAM estate agent has blamed “uncertainty around the Brexit deal” for a slowdown in the area’s housing market.

According to the latest House Price Index data, house prices fell by an average of 0.1 per cent across the UK between October and November last year. Nationally there has been a year-on-year average price rise of 2.8 per cent, however, compared with November 2017.

But although prices increased annually in Waverley and Hart, the rates were below the national average at 1.6 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively. Prices fell in East Hampshire where houses suffered a decrease of 3.3 per cent. However, Chichester and Winchester outstripped the national average with rises of 4.2 per cent and 3.9 per cent respectively.

Andrew Lodge, owner of Andrew Lodge estate agents in Farnham, said: “Uncertainty around the Brexit deal has resulted in a level of nervousness in the market. However, Farnham and the surrounding villages are still a much sought after area due to the schools, transport links and recreational areas.

“We’ve seen prices remain steady as well as reasonably well balanced supply and demand.”

It comes after Waverley and Hart have once again been named among the best places to live in the UK by the Halifax bi-annual Quality of Life Survey – albeit both slipping out of the top 10.

Waverley borough – including towns such as Farnham, Haslemere and Godalming – was ranked 12th this year by Halifax, down from seventh place in 2017.

Neighbouring Hart – incorporating the likes of Crondall, Odiham and Fleet – fell from top spot two years ago to rank just behind Waverley in 13th place.

Another neighbouring borough, Rushmoor, covering Aldershot and Farnborough, was the second biggest mover in the top 50, rising 108 places to 17th – earning the additional distinction of being named the ‘happiest’ place in Britain.

According to the survey, adults (16 and over) in Rushmoor have the highest average rating for life satisfaction in the UK. Based on a score out of 10, the adults in this area had an average rating of 8.6 – the UK average is 7.7.

Nationwide, Orkney was finally crowned the UK’s best place to live, following the past two years as runner-up. The archipelago, famed for its spectacular landscapes and archaeological treasures, sealed the top spot based on high employment levels, low crime rates, strong exam results, smaller primary class sizes and good health and happiness scores.

Richmondshire in North Yorkshire took second place (up from ninth), followed by Rutland in the East Midlands, Hambleton in North Yorkshire and Eden in Cumbria in fifth place

Russell Galley, managing director of Halifax, said: “Orkney has consistently been considered one of the best places to live in the UK and Orcadians will be delighted to hear they have now taken the crown.

“Its remote location may not be for everyone, but this comes with the benefit of having high employment, low crime rates, smaller class sizes and more affordable housing.

“While the South East continues to have the most locations in the top 50, we’ve seen northern areas perform particularly well on education while they also benefit from lower house prices when compared to average earnings.”

More than half of the top 50 best places to live in the UK are now outside southern England, with eight in the east of England.

East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber each have five areas, while the North West and Scotland both have two areas and Wales one.

The South East has the most areas in the top 50, with 18. These include South Oxfordshire (sixth), Vale of White Horse (11th), Waverley (12th) and last year’s best place to live Hart (13th).

London has just two areas in the top 50 – Westminster (15th) and Richmond upon Thames (40th), and the South West one is Cotswold (seventh).

There is a clear distinction in key strengths between areas in the south and the north. Local authority districts in the south are particularly strong in the labour market due to high employment levels and average earnings, on long life expectancy and where adults rate themselves to be in good health.

Geography also benefits these areas with more hours of sunshine and less rainfall.

In the north, most areas have relatively better housing affordability conditions with a low house price to earnings ratio. They also benefit from urban environmental factors such as low traffic flows, crime rates and fewer people per square kilometre – which in turn could explain why they have lower average primary school sizes.

The Quality of Life index aims to quantify where living standards are highest in the United Kingdom by ranking local performance across a range of indicators covering the labour market, housing market, the environment, education, health, personal well-being and leisure.