The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported that UK average house prices increased by 11.8% over the year to September 2021, up from 10.2% in August.

The average UK house price in September was at a record high of £270,000, £28,000 higher than the same month last year.

Average house prices increased over the year in England to £288,000 (11.5%), in Wales to £196,000 (15.4%), in Scotland to £180,000 (12.3%) and in Northern Ireland to £159,000 (10.7%).

London continues to be the region with the lowest annual growth (2.8%) for the 10th consecutive month.

Kevin Roberts, director at Legal & General Mortgage Club, said: “A rush to beat the Stamp Duty holiday deadline has clearly kept the housing market busy, with low mortgage rates and a desire amongst buyers for homes with more space driving considerable demand. The tapering of the tax break has also encouraged international buyers, in particular, to press ahead with their plans to purchase property. In fact, our data shows that demand for lenders that would consider applicants with a visa remained high in September.

“We should celebrate the resilience of the mortgage market, but it’s equally important that we’re mindful of those with challenging financial circumstances, especially with a rate rise looking increasingly likely. Homeowners looking to protect themselves against such a rise should seek the guidance of a mortgage adviser. These experts can help them to navigate the market and lock into one of the great fixed-rate deals that are still on offer.”