The UK housing market remained subdued in August, with house prices edging up by 0.2% over the month and annual growth sitting at 1.6%, according to Nationwide's latest House Price Index.

The Conservatives have unveiled a series of proposals aimed at reducing taxation and regulation, with housing and housebuilding featuring prominently within their plans. The party has described the wider programme as the “biggest deregulation project in a generation”, with proposals including abolishing stamp duty on property purchases.

The rental market is still growing, but the way properties are managed has changed. August is a useful time for landlords to review tenancies, rent processes and record-keeping.

The UK housing market has entered the final part of the year on a cautious but surprisingly resilient footing, with house prices remaining unchanged in September despite continued pressure from mortgage rates, household costs and wider economic uncertainty.