Which area is the safest and most affordable to buy property?

It concluded that Rutland in the East Midlands is the best place to buy property across England and Wales when it comes to safety and affordability.

Property values across the Midlands are still relatively affordable despite both the East and West Midlands seeing strong price growth over the last year.

Joining Rutland are a number of areas across the UK where property owners can pay a reasonable price and also have low crime rates. These include West Somerset, Eden, Ryedale, Richmondshire and Purbeck.

On the other side of the coin, the majority of the areas with the worst balance of unaffordable property values and high crime levels are in larger urban centres. Outside of London, The City of Bristol tops the list, followed by Brighton and Hove, Wiltshire, Cambridge and Leeds.

It’s not surprising that London has the most expensive property values and highest crime rates. But within the capital, potential property buyers should look to Sutton, where property prices are below London’s average at £384,902 and crime levels are -110% below the capital’s average.

Founder and CEO of Emoov, Russell Quirk, commented: “There is of course, a direct correlation between the amount of crime in an area and the price home buyers are willing to pay to live there.

"Unfortunately for many, the cost of getting on the ladder means they don’t have the luxury of considering crime rates when looking to buy, while city living also remains popular despite a higher tendency for crime in more populated urban environments.

"That said, the good news is that there are a number of areas across England and Wales with affordable price tags and a lower propensity for crime. As always, doing your research is key during the property buying process and can really help refine your search even before you reach the likes of Rightmove and Zoopla.”