LONDON (Reuters) - House prices rose strongly in April, supported by relatively cheap mortgages, lender Halifax said on Wednesday.
Prices increased 1.1 percent on the month - the best growth since November - after an upwardly revised rise of 0.4 percent in March.
In the three months ending in April, they were 2 percent higher than a year ago, recording the steepest rise since September 2010.
Analysts had expected monthly and yearly pick-ups of 0.1 percent and 1.6 percent respectively.
"Market activity, however, remains subdued by historical standards," said Halifax housing economist Martin Ellis.
"Weak income growth and continuing below-trend economic growth are likely to remain significant constraints on housing demand during the remainder of 2013."
(Reporting by Olesya Dmitracova)
