House prices 'fall further'

The recent fall in house prices has cancelled out property gains, according to new figures.

Research by Nationwide found that the average cost of a home dropped by 0.3 per cent in November, further to the 0.7 per cent fall the month before.

This could harm the finances of older people who have not opted to find a care home.

These latest figures mean that house prices have only increased a total of 0.4 per cent since a year ago, when the UK was in the depths of the recession.

Nationwide's chief economist Martin Gahbauer said that this does not necessarily mean that house price declines will increase over the next few months.

"Much of the weakness in property values since the spring has been driven by a return of sellers to the market, following unusually low levels of property for sale in 2009 and early 2010," he said.

This amid fears that an increase in life expectancy could increase deficits among pension companies, which could affect those paying for care homes.

Find the nearest Barchester nursing home.