HOUSE prices held firm during January despite widespread predictions of a fall, The Halifax, Britain's biggest mortgage lender said today.Halifax said the average cost of a home in the UK was unchanged during the month at £197,244.

HOUSE prices held firm during January despite widespread predictions of a fall, The Halifax, Britain's biggest mortgage lender said today.

Halifax said the average cost of a home in the UK was unchanged during the month at £197,244.

But annual house price inflation fell to 4.5 per cent for the year to the end of January, its lowest figure since November 2005 and down on the previous month's figure of 5.2pc.