House prices went up 0.2% in January, rising by £455 from December to £301,477, according to property experts’ latest England and Wales House Price Index. This marks the first monthly climb since September but the increase is down on the 0.4% climb recorded in January 2016. Rutland in the East Midlands saw the strongest performance, climbing 12.1%, while Blackburn saw values increase 9.4%. London experienced the largest fall in prices, with values down 4.3%. The average home in the capital is now valued at £589,533 – £26,742 lower than in January 2017.