House prices came close to reaching a record high last month as falling mortgage rates helped to boost confidence among buyers, according to Halifax. The UK's largest mortgage lender said the average house price hit £293,399 in September, just short of the record £293,507 reached in June 2022.

LONDON (Reuters) -British house prices rose in September at the fastest annual pace since November 2022, according to data from mortgage lender Halifax, as expectations of further reductions in borrowing costs added to momentum in the property sector.

UK house prices climbed for a third consecutive month in September as cheaper mortgages and increased incomes spurred more buyers into the market, data from Halifax showed.