House price growth remains stable across most of the UK, although prices in London are increasing faster than the UK average.
The year-on-year increase reflected growth of 2.8% in England and 6.2% in Wales, which were offset by declines of 1.2% in Scotland and 0.8% in Northern Ireland.
Annual house price increases in England were driven by a 6.0% rise in London and a 3.6% increase in the East Midlands.
Andy Knee, chief executive of LMS, said: “Despite the fact that house prices across the UK are remaining reasonably stable, the 6% rise witnessed in the capital has seriously affected the overall average.
“Therefore, the 2.6% year-on-year increase announced this morning does not accurately represent what is happening in the market as a whole.”
Excluding London and the South East, UK house prices increased by 1.4% in the 12 months to April 2013.
On a seasonally adjusted basis UK house prices increased by 0.4% between March and April 2013.
In April 2013, prices paid by first-time buyers were 4.7% higher on average than in April 2012. For owner-occupiers prices increased by 1.9% for the same period.
