House price growth picks up in July as wages rise

The average price of a house increased to £266,334 last month, up 2.1% from the previous year, however, prices are still below the all-time highs recorded in the summer of 2022.

Part of the reason for the jump in annual price growth was weak growth at the same time last year, Mr Gardner said.

However, people are also feeling more confident as their wages rise in real terms, he said.

Although pay growth has been slowing, it has still been outpacing rising prices.

The speed of pay growth is one of the economic factors the Bank of England will consider at its meeting on Thursday to decide interest rates.

Nationwide, one of the biggest mortgage lenders in the UK, bases its figures on house prices on its own lending.

The statistics do not include buyers who purchase homes with cash, or buy-to-let deals. Cash buyers account for about a third of housing sales.