Homes remain unsold for a year

One in four properties in parts of the country has been on the market for the whole of 2008, and on average 5 per cent across the UK have been on the market for the year. Towns in the north of England have been particularly hard hit by a stagnating market with properties in the north accounting for eight of the top 10 towns which have the highest proportion of unsold properties in the country. Properties in cities have generally been less effected than those in towns. Property sales are running at around half the level seen in 2007.