Average house prices fell for the 31st consecutive month in January, with 13 per cent of homeowners reporting that the value of their home had fallen, new figures have signalled.

UK households perceived that property prices declined over the last month, albeit at the joint-slowest rate since July 2010.

However, data from the latest Knight Frank/Markit’s latest House Price Sentiment Index (HPSI) has also indicated renewed optimism, with households in eight of the 11 regions expecting that the value of their homes will rise in 2013.

7.7 per cent of homeowners surveyed reported that the values of their homes had risen, the same as last month.

Londoners are more optimistic about prices rising over the next 12 months than at any time since June 2010 and Welsh households are expecting the biggest fall in property values.

The HPSI reading of 47.6 in January, which matches November’s reading, is the highest reading since July 2010, indicating that house prices fell more modestly during these months than any time over the last two-and-a-half years.

Any figure under 50 indicates that prices are falling, and the lower the figure, the steeper the decline; any figure over 50 indicates that prices are rising.

The overall index reading for the UK was 54.5, up from 53.1 in December.

On a smoother three-month average, the future HPSI in January was 54.5, up from 53.2 in December and the highest since August 2010.

As ever there are regional differences, however, the number of regions expecting price rises this year has risen to eight, up from six in December.

Londoners (65.5) once again lead the way, and now expect the biggest lift in the value of their homes over the next 12 months than at any time since June 2010.

The North-South divide is evident to an extent as households in the South East (59.8) and the South West (55.9) are also very upbeat about the outlook for house prices.

In contrast, those living in Wales (45.2), the North East (45.7) and Scotland (49.7) expect prices to fall.

Households in the North West (50.3), Yorkshire and the Humber (51.5), the East Midlands (51.5) and the West Midlands (50.8) all expect prices to remain stable or rise very modestly.

Those renting from private landlords (57.7) expect the biggest rise in prices over the next year, while those living rent free (50.0) are the most dubious about potential price rises.

Gráinne Gilmore, Head of UK Residential Research at Knight Frank, commented: "Households have started the New Year with optimism over the outlook for house prices in their area, shrugging off gloomy news over the economy which has emerged this week.

"There has been some good news from the housing market however, with a modest pick-up in mortgage lending and signs that mortgage rates are starting to recede, especially on deals available to those with modest deposits.

"There are hopes that the Bank of England’s multi-billion Funding for Lending Scheme will lead to a further rise in mortgage lending and larger declines in mortgage rates, but there is little evidence of this so far.

"London has stood out in terms of house prices in recent years, but there are signs that the market could be picking up outside the capital, especially in the South West and South East, boosted by outperformance in those regional economies."