Britain’s biggest mortgage lender, the Halifax, has recorded a 1.2% leap in house prices for September. The Halifax said last month’s rise lifted the average price of a home to £168,299 and followed a 1.9% increase in August. This is out of step with some of its rivals many of whom have reported house prices dips in the same period. Halifax’s chief economist, Martin Ellis, said the pick up in house price growth in August and September “is consistent with the rise in market activity over the past few months.” But the mortgage lender does not expect to see a “sustained surge” in house price. According to the Halifax the biggest increases over the past three months have been in the north of England and Northern Ireland, where prices have risen 6.6% and 4.5% respectively between July 1 and September 30. In the same quarter prices in London rose by 3.8%. Guardian