The Financial Times’ residential house price index, conducted by Acadametrics, found that house price inflation for June was 0.2% up on May’s figure of 0.5%, which represents good news for those with buy-to-let mortgages looking to gain from capital appreciation.

Annual house price inflation also increased, up from 8.7% to 9%. Doctor Peter Williams, Acadametrics chairman, said: “With the Nationwide index showing an increase of 1.1% in June and Halifax 0.4%, there is a degree of confusion as to what really is happening on the market – although both organisations are showing an increase on the level of growth reported in May.

“Since December 2006, the average house price has increased by £8,749, around 4% in the six months.”