Figures revealing a sharp drop in mortgage approvals in January have confirmed that the UK housing market made a slow start to the year.
The Bank of England said that the number of home loans approved for house purchases in January fell by 17% compared with the previous month.
The 48,198 approvals was the lowest number for eight months, but still 43% higher than a year ago earlier.
Experts have said the end of the stamp duty holiday was behind the drop.
Source: BBC News