THE SPOOKIEST STREETS IN BRITAIN W

SALARIES in Kirklees have risen by 9.32 per cent since 2007 – although it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster ride to get there. The average wage was £23,540 then, compared to £25,735 today. This isn’t so good when you consider that nationally, wages have had an increase of 17.61 per cent.

When looking at property prices locally during the same time frame, I found that net property values in Kirklees are 2.65 per cent higher than they were in spring 2007. Wages in the Huddersfield area have increased at a higher rate than property values to the tune of 6.67 per cent.

All this is important because the relationship between salaries and property values determines how affordable property is to buyers. It is also relevant for landlords, as they need to be aware of these statistics when making their buy-to-let plans for the future. If more people are buying, then demand for rental properties will drop (and vice versa).

Now, of course, it isn’t as simple as comparing salaries and property prices, as that measurement disregards issues such as low mortgage rates and the diminishing proportion of disposable income that is spent on mortgage repayments. But this issue of ‘property affordability’ is a great bellwether to the future direction of the Huddersfield property market. OULD you be brave enough to live on Vampire Road or Headless Close? With less than a week to go before Halloween, we take a look at some of the spookiest street names in Britain.

According to HouseSimple, just 19 people had the courage to buy a property on one of these streets since last Halloween, and there have only been 227 sales on these streets in the past 10 years. Also, there hasn’t been a house sale on more than half of these streets in the past 12 months, and not a single property sale on Cemetery Lane and Hell Lane in the past decade.

Trick or Treaters will be out in force on Tuesday October 31, but maybe not along Hell Lane, Gallows Close or Howling Lane. And they may think twice about trying their luck along the aptly named Revenge Close – who knows what homeowners might have up their sleeves.

Let’s be honest, could you blame potential buyers for walking swiftly by Skull House Lane or Gallow’s Close? And you might feel you’re tempting fate a little if you live on Coffin Close or Reapers Close.

Witches are most commonly associated with Halloween and our research revealed quite a few witch-themed street names. How about flying off to Broomstick Lane, or maybe you feel your luck’s in if you buy on Black Cat Drive? Cauldron Crescent’s property prices might be bubbling up nicely, and it might be a laugh to be living on the wonderfully named Cackle Street.

Although house sales are few and far between on these roads, not all buyers are scared off by a scary name. Spook Hill in Dorking has had 33 house sales over the past 10 years – that’s 74 per cent more sales than on Black Cat Drive – the next most popular street in terms of property sales. Alex Gosling, CEO of online estate agents HouseSimple.com commented: “Most of us wouldn’t read much into a name, but then we probably don’t live on Vampire Road, Reapers Close or Skull House Lane. And the sales numbers over the past year do suggest these streets may suffer a little because their names leave a shiver after the first viewing. “After all, when the nights draw in, would you be slightly nervous about viewing a property on Hangman’s Lane? “Fortunately, most people aren’t spooked by Halloween and the name of the street is unlikely to be a factor if you find your perfect property. A determined buyer won’t be put off buying a house because the street name is Gallow’s Close or Dead Lane – but maybe they just won’t view it on Friday 13!”