Because the sold-price record carries almost none of what actually drives a price. Two addresses twenty metres apart can differ by a third on extensions, condition, aspect, parking, lease length and how motivated each seller was — and none of that is in the dataset.
What moves the price but is invisible in sold-price data
| Factor | Typical effect | Where you can actually check it |
|---|---|---|
| Extension or loft conversion | Changes the floor area the price is really buying | EPC floor area; planning records |
| Condition and modernisation | Often the single largest gap between neighbours | Viewing; survey |
| Lease length (flats) | Falls away sharply under 80 years | Title register |
| Aspect, outlook, noise | Persistent premium or discount | Visit at different times of day |
| Parking or garage | Material in dense areas | Title plan; viewing |
| Seller motivation | A probate or forced sale can sit well under market | Rarely disclosed — infer from time on market |
This is exactly why a district median should never be read as "what a house here is worth". It is a summary of a mixed basket, and the spread around it is usually wider than people expect.
Check it yourself, free
Sold prices for any postcode — no account, no email wall.
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Last reviewed: 2026-09-20. We check these against the linked official sources and re-date the page when they change.