House prices in the latest three months were 2.6% higher than in the previous three months, the Halifax has reported.

The quarterly rate of change increased for the second successive month. However, it remains below the rates recorded between July and September 2014. The three monthly rate increased despite a small monthly fall in February due to robust rises in both December and January.

Prices in the three months to February were 8.3% higher than in the same three months a year earlier. This was a little lower than January’s annual increase of 8.5% and significantly below the peak of 10.2% in July 2014.

House prices fell by 0.3% between January and February, partly offsetting January’s 1.9% rise.

Martin Ellis, housing economist, said: “House prices in the three months to February were 2.6% higher than in the preceding three months. This measure of the underlying rate of house price growth increased for the second consecutive month in February despite a small monthly fall in prices. Annual price growth nonetheless eased, from 8.5% in January to 8.3%, and is comfortably below last July’s peak of 10.2%.

“The firming in price growth shown by the recent pick-up in the three month-on-three month comparison and indications of a modest rise in activity are likely to be due to a boost to housing demand as a result of increases in real earnings and spending power, further recent falls in mortgage rates and stamp duty changes.

“The supply of both new and secondhand homes available for sale remains low; another factor that is likely to be supporting house prices. Supply remains tight despite housebuilding in England increasing for the second consecutive year in 2014 and a recent rise in the number of properties coming on to the market.”