Portsmouth Property: 1926 vs 2026 – 100 Years of Change

Celebrating Portsmouth 100 years as a city

At Chinneck Shaw, Portsmouth property is part of our history. Having served the city since 1883, we’ve seen generations of Portsmouth families move home, invest and put down roots.

So, what did the local property market look like 100 years ago — and how does it compare with today?

House Prices: 1926 vs 2026

Back in 1926, the average UK house price was around £619. Portsmouth, then a predominantly working-class naval city, would generally have sat below the national average.

Many of the homes familiar to us today — the Victorian and Edwardian terraces lining streets across Southsea, Fratton, Milton and surrounding areas — were already well established.

A typical two-bedroom Portsmouth terrace may have changed hands for somewhere in the region of £300–£500, while newer or larger homes could have commanded £500–£700.

But buying wasn’t the norm. Mortgages were far less accessible and the majority of Portsmouth households rented their homes.

Fast-forward 100 years…

In 2026, the average Portsmouth home is worth around £250,000, with first-time buyers typically paying in the region of £233,000.

That means a Portsmouth property that might have cost a few hundred pounds a century ago can now be worth a quarter of a million pounds — an extraordinary illustration of how our local market has evolved.

And Portsmouth has one characteristic that hasn’t changed: space is at a premium.

With the city’s island geography naturally restricting the amount of land available for development, established homes in popular neighbourhoods continue to face strong demand.

What about rents?

In 1926, renting was simply part of everyday life for most Portsmouth families. A small terraced home could cost around 7–10 shillings per week.

Today, average private rents in Portsmouth are around £1,367 per month.

The numbers may be dramatically different, but the fundamentals of the property market remain surprisingly familiar: location, supply and demand still matter.

So, what has changed in 100 years?

Home ownership has gone from being relatively unusual to a major aspiration.

Property values have increased enormously, even after allowing for inflation.

Renting has transformed from the dominant form of housing into a substantial and increasingly professionalised private rental market.

And Portsmouth’s limited geography means good homes in the right locations remain highly sought after.

Chinneck Shaw has been part of Portsmouth for longer than this entire comparison.

From Victorian terraces changing hands for hundreds of pounds to the homes we sell and let across Portsmouth today, we’ve had a front-row seat to more than a century of change.

The prices might be different. The paperwork is certainly different. But helping Portsmouth people find somewhere to call home remains at the heart of what we do.

Portsmouth property. Local knowledge. Chinneck Shaw since 1883.

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