House prices have risen since September 

Data from the body's House Price Index for October shows that there was a price increase of 0.6 per cent across the market.

A home in England and Wales now costs an average of £160,000.

All regions of the country experienced a decline in house prices over the last 12 months. Homeowners in the West Midlands saw the biggest fall in their property values, with a fall of 7.3 per cent in the year.

In the north west the most significant increase in the values, with a rise of 2.4 per cent. This is in contrast to Wales, where consumers experienced a minus of 3.1 per cent.

The registry reported in September that the average house price was £160,000, with the largest increase for the month being in London, which saw a 1.2 per cent rise.