DIY enthusiasts are now favouring straightforward home improvements that add value, with minimal costs, according to new research.

UK annual house price inflation in February 2006 was 3.6 per cent, down from 4.3 per cent in January 2006, according to the latest figures.

The streets of London have been paved with gold for Premium Bond holders in the past year, with residents of the Square Mile emerging as the UK’s luckiest for winning top Premium Bond prizes.

Nearly 100,000 borrowers will pay an average of £2,000 in unnecessary lending charges when they take out a mortgage this year.

Mortgage lending for February was 22 per cent higher than the £17.9 lent in February 2005.

British homeowners are now paying £60 million more stamp duty despite last year’s rise in threshold.

UK annual house price inflation was 4.3 per cent in January, up from 2.9 per cent in December 2005, according to the latest figures.