House prices down in May, says official body

The news paints a confusing picture for homeowners and first-time buyers as mortgage lenders Halifax and Nationwide both reported UK-wide price increases in May of up to 2.6%.

However, the pair’s figures only reflect the price of homes bought by their customers, whereas the Land Registry uses a much larger sample.

The Land Registry reveals typical prices fell by 0.2% over the month. That's down from the 0.3% drop in April, which followed a 0.5% fall in March.

Property prices are down by 15.9 % over the past year. The average house price is now £152,497.

Regional variations

In London, prices fell by 1.5% in May, compared to a sharper 4.3% drop in the North East.

However, prices in Wales rose by 1.2%, while values in the North West and West Midlands increased by 1%.

Further reading

Find out how to get a free house price valuation.