FILE PHOTO: A combination of eight photographs shows eight separate house doors in London, Britain January 19, 2017. Britain's housing market had its weakest month since just after June's Brexit vote in December as house price growth slowed and the number of homes sold fell slightly, a closely watched survey of property valuers showed on Wednesday. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said its members expected a further slowdown in price rises over the next three months, although a clear majority thought prices in 2017 would be higher than last year. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
LONDON (Reuters) – British house prices rose at the fastest annual rate since the start of 2017 during the three months to the end of May, mortgage lender Halifax said on Friday, though it added the figure was flattered by weak growth a year ago.
Halifax said house prices in the three months to May were 5.2% higher than in 2018, up from 5.0% annual growth in the three months to April, their highest since January 2017 and beating a forecast in a Reuters poll of economists.
Britains housing market has slowed since 2016s Brexit referendum, driven by price falls in London and neighbouring areas, exacerbated by higher purchase taxes on homes costing over 1 million pounds ($1.27 million) and on second homes and small landlords.
Halifax said prices rose 0.5% on the month in May, in contrast to predictions of a fall, and Aprils monthly house price growth was revised up to 1.2% from 1.1%.
“The overall message is one of stability,” Halifax managing director Russell Galley said.
“Despite the ongoing political and economic uncertainty, underlying conditions in the broader economy continue to underpin the housing market, particularly the twin factors of high employment and low interest rates,” he added.
Since the start of this year, Halifax house price data have been consistently stronger than figures from rival mortgage lender Nationwide,Read More
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