U.K. House-price Growth Slows To 17-month Low: RICS

Growth in U.K. house prices slowed to the lowest level since May 2013 in October, as buyer demand slipped for a fourth straight month, according to the RICS U.K. residential market survey released on Thursday. The headline price balance fell to +20 from +30 in September, falling short of estimates that had called for a +25 reading. The slowdown in the housing market was particularly seen in London, where 62% of the survey respondents reported a fall in new buyer demand. Rob Wood, chief U.K. economist at Berenberg, said in a note that regulatory changes and the discussion of a Mansion Tax have taken steam out of housing market in the capital.