LSL

The index comes just a fortnight after LSL Property Services said rents in England and Wales rose by 0.7% in June to reach a record high of £701 per month, pushing annual rent inflation to 4.1%.

Rents soar to record levels 2011

In London, LSL said rents had smashed the £1,000 a month barrier for the first time, rising by 1% in June to reach a high of £1,006 per month.

Rents soar to record levels 2011

LSL's index is considered more robust than rivals as it uses the actual prices at which every property in England and Wales was sold, including those bought with cash, incorporating Land Registry data rather than valuation estimates or asking prices.

House prices in England and Wales edge up in August 2011

We include rental properties across zone one in London, and we also show asking prices rather than LSL's negotiated prices, so these tend to be higher.

Rents soar to record levels 2011

David Newnes, director of LSL Property Services, said: While some regions have seen prices fall, the rate of fall has shrunk.

House prices in England and Wales edge up in August 2011

The average house price in England and Wales edged up by 0.3% in August according to the latest LSL Property Services/Acadametrics house price index, however prices remained down by 2.2% year-on-year,The annual price fall mirrors June's annual house price deflation figure of -2.2% – which was the largest year-on-year drop since last December and takes the price of an average home to £219,078.

House prices in England and Wales edge up in August 2011

Separate research from LSL Property Services showed a 0.3% fall in house prices in September.

First-time buyers hit by lenders' caution 2011

LSL estimated that the number of housing transactions would rise by 1.5% to 64,500 in August, "completely defying the classic summer slowdown", when transactions usually fall by 1.5% during the month.

House prices in England and Wales edge up in August 2011

David Newnes, director of LSL, said the modest summer recovery in the housing market "came to an abrupt end in September".

First-time buyers hit by lenders' caution 2011

And of course, figuring the answers to the adult questions to play LSL, good times.

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