House prices in the UK are accelerating, according to figures from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The UK house price inflation rate rose from 2.9% in December 2005 to 4.3% in January 2006. Prices rose by 1.3% between December and January, compared to a fall of 0.1% seen over the same period last year.

The UK average house price increased between December and January by 1.3%. Average prices rose for all dwelling types, especially for detached houses where prices rose by 2.6%. Prices of semi-detached houses and flats rose by 1.3% and 0.9% respectively.

House price inflation by country

In the home countries, England, and Wales saw rises in annual inflation in January, while inflation fell in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The inflation rate in England rose from 2.1% in December to 3.7% in January and in Wales rose from 5.1% to 6.4%.

Over the same period, the inflation rate in Scotland fell from 10.9% to 10.5% and in Northern Ireland the rate fell from 12.9% to 12.5%.

House price inflation rose in seven of the English regions but fell in the other two. The highest inflation rates remain in the north, in Yorkshire and the Humber (9.3%) and North East (7.6%). Inflation rates were lower in other parts of England; in London (5.3%), West Midlands (4.8%) and North West (4.4%). House prices in the South East and East rose by 2.4% and 2.3% respectively while inflation rates in the East Midlands and South West were 0.8% and 0.7% respectively. This is the first month since July 2005 that inflation has been positive in all regions.

House prices: regional

Mix-adjusted average house prices in January were £197,020 in England, £150,129 in Wales, £129,666 in Scotland and £140,305 in Northern Ireland.

The English region with the highest average house price in January remains London at £273,973. The lowest average price was in the North East at £135,715.

Only the East, London, South East and the South West had average prices above the UK average.

House price inflation: type of buyer

The UK house price inflation rate for first-time buyers rose from 4.1% in December to 5.2% in January. This was due to a rise of 0.6% in prices between December and January of properties bought by first-time buyers compared with a fall of 0.5% over the same period last year.

The inflation rate for former owner-occupiers rose from 2.5% in December to 4.0% in January. This was due to a rise of 1.5% in prices between December and January in the properties bought by former owner-occupiers, compared with a smaller rise of 0.1% over the same period last year.

The average price paid by first time buyers across the whole of the UK was £153,633 in January, while the average price paid by former owner-occupiers was £203,811.