Hidden Treasure

Hidden Treasure

At £14bn the value of unspent paper £20 and £50 notes equates to the equivalent of over 50,000 average priced homes.

After the 30th September 2022 paper £20 and £50 notes will no longer be legal tender in the UK. At the last count the Bank of England estimated there were over 460 million unspent paper notes, over £6bn unspent in £20s and £8bn in £50s.

Each month around 28% of all sales in England and Wales are cash purchases. In 2021, cash sales account for more than 1 in 3 property purchases in the South West and less than 1 in five in London.

The average price of a property purchased with cash is, on average, 8%-9% less than the average price of a property purchased with a mortgage. Source: Dataloft, Nationwide, UKHPI, Bank of England

**This week there are two versions of the infographic to chose from. One focuses on unspent notes and number of home it could buy and the other on the proportion of homes purchased with cash. Check the Infographic library**


Get our Newsletter

The London property market continues to shift as we head towards the end of 2025. Here's what's been happening across the capital and what it means for homeowners considering a move.

If you want to move in 2026, positioning yourself as a serious buyer is essential. Here’s how to put yourself ahead of the competition and be taken seriously by sellers.

Want first access to the best homes in 2026? Discover how our tech-led Heads Up Property Alerts help you see properties before they reach Rightmove—so you never miss out on your dream home again.

The end of the year is a natural time to look back, while also looking forward, and hoping for the best in 2026. At Trading Places, we are pleased to say we played a strong role in assisting so many people to move home in, out and around Leytonstone and surrounding areas. We look forward to helping many more next year.