April 8 (Reuters) - British house prices slid unexpectedly last month as economic uncertainty stemming from the Iran war hurt buyer demand, mortgage lender Halifax said on Wednesday.
House prices fell by 0.5% month-on-month during March, Halifax said, following a 0.3% increase in February.
A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to a 0.1% increase.
The survey contrasted with findings from rival mortgage lender Nationwide, which recorded a sharp increase in house prices in March.
Halifax said its house price index was up 0.8% compared with March 2025, against expectations for a 1.5% annual increase.
"The recent slowdown in the housing market reflects the wide uncertainty regarding the conflict in the Middle East," said Amanda Bryden, head of mortgages at Halifax.
"Concerns about higher energy prices have pushed up inflation expectations, which in turn led to a rise in mortgage rates, reducing confidence that interest rates will be cut this year and dampening the initial momentum in the market seen at the start of the year."
Reporting by Andy Bruce; Editing by Kate Holton
Source: Reuters