UK house prices rising again says Nationwide

House prices across the UK have resumed an upward trend, according to the building society Nationwide.

Between March and April, average prices increased by 1%, the biggest monthly jump since June 2014.

House prices grew at an annualised rate of 5.2%, the first time that the annual pace of growth has increased for more than half a year.

The average price of a house in the UK has now reached £193,048, the highest level achieved since Nationwide began its monthly house price surveys.

"The pick up in price growth has occurred even though the pace of activity in the housing market has remained fairly subdued in recent months," said Nationwide's chief economist Robert Gardner.

The Nationwide survey follows a report from the British Bankers' Association (BBA) that said mortgage approvals in March reached their highest levels in six months, although they remain below the level in March 2014.

The groups cited the proliferation of lower mortgage rates on the market. The UK's first ever sub-2% five-year mortgage reached the market in April.

Meanwhile, the UK charity Shelter said that 80% of housing had become unaffordable for families looking to buy homes for the first time in England.

The charity only found 43 affordable homes in the capital London, four of which were houseboats.