Housing prices leaping, says the Halifax

House prices rose 1.1 per cent in April, according to the Halifax, taking the average price to £166,094. This is the highest level of the index since August 2010. However, prices are still 16.8 per cent below their peak in August 2007, when average prices were £199,612.

The April increase also contrasts with a 0.1 per cent month-on-month fall recorded by the Nationwide house price index in the month.