British house prices fell 1.3% in April to stand 3.7% lower than a year ago, according to data from Britain's biggest mortgage lender HBOS, which showed a housing market downturn gathering pace.
Prices in the three months to April were 0.9% lower than a year ago, the lender's Halifax house price index shows today.
The average house price stood at £189,027 sterling last month, compared with £196,262 in April last year, and has now fallen for three months in a row.
The figures will add to concerns that the housing market could weaken sharply this year as lenders toughen up their mortgage terms and the economy slows.
Last month, Halifax reported house prices falling 2.5% on the year, the fastest monthly rate of decline since 1992.
