No matter the quality or condition of a home, if it is located in an area that offers little in terms of services or personal safety then the vendor will always find themselves consistently lowering their asking price in desperation to complete a sale.

If you’re browsing through listings on an online portal such as Rightmove, you will occasionally see a beautiful property for a staggeringly low price. Opening the listing, you remain optimistic but cautious as to why such a wonderful example of a home can be so cheap despite its large open rooms and well maintained exterior, so after a period of reflection you decide to contact the agent to arrange a viewing.

As you approach the house, it slowly dawns on you why the vendor is having such a hard time selling. For starters, there doesn’t appear to be any local amenities or shops within a 2-3 mile radius – so if the new owner wishes to pick up a few essentials, it would be necessary to catch a bus or drive. Secondly, the neighbourhood appears to have high levels of crime – a deal-breaker for most of us. And once you finally go inside, you hear the dreaded words “I’m afraid we don’t have broadband available in this part of town”.

In the UK, there are many places that buyers would prefer to avoid, and as a result National Homebuyers have been inundated by vendors who need to  sell their house fast. Luckily, National Homebuyers will buy any home regardless of location with competitive quotes and industry leading service – but where are the worst places to sell a home in the UK?

This year, Home.co.uk compared data from sales across the nation, presenting a list of the areas where a house sale can turn into a nightmare that never ends, along with the average time it can take to sell:

1. Rotherham –279 days

2. Knightsbridge – 277 days

3. Sunderland – 277 days

4. Mayfair – 272 days

5. North Shields – 268 days

6. Marylebone – 268 days

7. Soho – 266 days

8. Charing Cross – 265 days

9. South Shields – 264 days

10. Strand – 262 days

Perhaps the most shocking thing regarding the list is the number of London boroughs. Many of these boroughs were in great demand just five years ago, but thanks to rising sold house prices, higher taxes and low wage levels, sellers who refuse to lower their asking price are finding themselves on the market for nine months or more.

Another interesting point is how few northerly towns are included in the list versus similar previous surveys. Analysts believe that the relocation of big companies such as the BBC to large northern cities with lower land values has had a positive effect on neighbouring towns as commuters vie for the best available properties.

With limited trade and falling levels of available industrial work, it is unsurprising to learn that other than the six areas near the capital, three out of the four remaining places on the list are occupied by towns from the north-east.

However, first prize goes to the large South Yorkshire town of Rotherham where houses take, on average, 279 days to sell. With high levels of crimes and the proliferation of ‘grooming’ gangs, combined with high rates of binge drinking and drug abuse within its population, Rotherham often finds itself named on humorous websites as one of the ‘worst places to live in the UK’.

While these lists do change as time passes with the rise and fall of local economies, it is clear that the economic downturn and public insecurity concerning Brexit has had far-reaching consequences for vendors up and down the country – even in the capital.

Are you unable to sell? Why not ask National Homebuyers for advice, as we buy any house. Call 08000 443 911 or request a call back to find out how much you could get for your property.