The latest figures from one of the UK’s largest mortgage providers still shows a great uncertainty in the housing market, with the bank claiming the sector is “lacking general direction”.

The Halifax, once the biggest Building Society in the country and now a part of the Lloyds group, reported house prices had dropped in September by half of one per cent. The figure represents little change in prices; the average home in the UK now costs £161,132, but does represent the topsy turvy way prices have fluctuated throughout 2011. Martin Ellis, a housing economist at the Halifax, explained just how unpredictable the year has been, saying “September continued the mixed monthly picture experienced so far this year with four rises, four falls and one no change since January. This mixed pattern is consistent with a market where prices are lacking genuine direction.”

The slight drop has not prevented quarterly figures still being very slightly up on the second quarter of 2011, but does indicate a drop of over 2% on figures for September 2010. The Halifax still believe homeowners are keen to organise home insurance quotes on new homes but are being frustrated by the financial situation.

The report actually indicates that homeowners are paying less of their monthly income in mortgage repayments than at any time this century. According to the figures the average loan repayment is now just 26% of income. Four short years ago the figure was almost 50%. The next few months offer little in change for the sector with low interest rates and relatively low asking prices arousing the interests of buyers, but rising inflation and high deposit requirements stopping that interest in its tracks. For the moment at least it is the rental sector that will remain the focus of interest for most people looking to move home.