UK house prices rise unexpectedly for third month in a row, by 0.8%

Halifax says market has been helped by easing of borrowing costs

• Business live: latest updates

UK house prices rose unexpectedly for a third month in a row in March in a sign of resilience" in the market according to the latest report from Halifax.

The lender said the average price rose by 0.8% month on month, to 287,880, which followed rises of 0.2% and 1.2% in January and February.