Key indicators for buyers
The ME18 market presents a mixed picture for buyers. Prices are rising at 37.4%, which may favour acting sooner rather than later. Affordability has improved from a peak of 12.0x in 2022 to 10.1x today. Rising rents (£1,280/mo, +4.3%) mean the cost of waiting is real.
Yearly averages · HM Land Registry Price Paid Data
2026averages · HM Land Registry Price Paid Data
House price ÷ median earnings · ONS data
Affordability data shown for wider Maidstone area
A home in Maidstone costs 10.1x the local median salary — very stretched, improving from a peak of 12.0x in 2022.
Average monthly rent · ONS Private Rental Index
Rental data shown for wider Maidstone area
Average monthly rent in Maidstone is £1,280, up 4.3% year-on-year. Rents have risen consistently over the past five years.
2yr fixed · 75% LTV · 25yr term · BoE avg. rate
Based on the average Maidstone price of £629,000 with a 25% deposit (£157k), a 2-year fixed mortgage at 3.97% costs around £2,482 per month.
Monthly cost comparison based on current data
Uses ME18 avg. price with Maidstone rental data
Monthly mortgage payments (£2,482) are £1,202 more than renting (£1,280). However, buying requires an upfront deposit of £157k — it would take around 46 years to recoup that cost compared to renting and investing the difference.
Latest transactions · HM Land Registry Price Paid Data
| Address | Type | Price | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
20, HAWTHORNDEN GROVE, YALDING ME18 6FG | Detached | £1,025,000 | 16 Jan 2026 |
28, COURTLANDS, TESTON ME18 5AS | Semi-detached | £455,000 | 9 Jan 2026 |
92, BOW ROAD, WATERINGBURY ME18 5DS | Semi-detached | £700,000 | 8 Jan 2026 |
7, READERS COURT, TESTON ME18 5EY | Semi-detached | £565,000 | 6 Jan 2026 |
174, TONBRIDGE ROAD, WATERINGBURY ME18 5NS | Semi-detached | £400,000 | 6 Jan 2026 |
SOUTH BARN, LADDINGFORD ME18 6BX | Detached | £835,000 | 18 Dec 2025 |
4, PENNYWOOD COTTAGES, YALDING ME18 6ED |
Data sources (all free & public): HM Land Registry Price Paid Data & UK House Price Index · ONS Housing Affordability Ratios · ONS Private Rental Index · Bank of England Quoted Household Interest Rates · HMRC Monthly Property Transactions
Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2021. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The average property in ME18 sold for £629,000 in 2026, with a median of £565,000 across 5 transactions. Prices rose 37.4% compared to the previous year.
| Semi-detached |
| £500,000 |
| 17 Dec 2025 |
3, WOOLLETTS COTTAGES, BENOVER ROAD, YALDING ME18 6EN | Other | £248,800 | 11 Dec 2025 |
192A, TONBRIDGE ROAD, WATERINGBURY ME18 5NL | Flat/Maisonette | £205,000 | 5 Dec 2025 |
8, BARHAM MEWS, TESTON ME18 5BL | Flat/Maisonette | £135,000 | 23 Oct 2025 |
21, BARHAM MEWS, TESTON ME18 5BL | Flat/Maisonette | £140,000 | 17 Oct 2025 |
1, THE GLEBE, YALDING ME18 6BF | Semi-detached | £430,000 | 17 Oct 2025 |
7, BLUMER LOCK, YALDING ME18 6AD | Semi-detached | £530,000 | 10 Oct 2025 |
11, THE BRUCKS, WATERINGBURY ME18 5PX | Semi-detached | £485,000 | 3 Oct 2025 |
349, MALLING ROAD, MEREWORTH ME18 5QP | Semi-detached | £330,000 | 3 Oct 2025 |
5, HAWTHORNDEN GROVE, YALDING ME18 6FG | Detached | £856,028 | 1 Oct 2025 |
1, THE COACH HOUSE, LEES ROAD, LADDINGFORD ME18 6DB | Detached | £865,000 | 26 Sept 2025 |
21, BRYANT CLOSE, NETTLESTEAD ME18 5EX | Terraced | £320,000 | 26 Sept 2025 |
32, THE BRUCKS, WATERINGBURY ME18 5PX | Terraced | £450,000 | 22 Sept 2025 |
3, CATCHMENT COTTAGES, HAMPSTEAD LANE, YALDING ME18 6HL | Semi-detached | £345,000 | 12 Sept 2025 |
The most recent recorded sale in ME18 was a detached property on Hawthornden Grove for £1,025,000 in January 2026. Across the last 20 sales, the median price was £455,000.