The mortgage lender, part of Lloyds Banking Group, said that prices “soared” in the second half of 2020.

Pent-up demand, a clamour for more space, and stamp duty holidays led to higher prices.

But the Halifax said the economic realities of 2021 meant activity would slow as the year progressed.

“With the pace of the UK’s economic recovery expected to be constrained by the renewed national lockdown, and unemployment widely predicted to rise in the coming months, downward pressure on house prices remains likely as we move through 2021,” said Russell Galley, managing director at the Halifax.

Read More: BBC

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