UK house prices jump 2.2pc in March "This suggests that the ending of the temporary increase in the starting threshold of stamp duty for first-time buyers from £125,000 to £250,000 in late March encouraged some to buy before the threshold reverted to the lower level," the Halifax said. An extra four in ten first-time buyers - 150,000 in total - have been exempt from paying stamp duty as a result of the Government temporarily doubling the starting threshold over the past two years. However, the Halifax said it continued to expect little overall movement in prices this year "provided that the UK economy does not suffer a pronounced weakening." Prices in the first three months of 2012 were 0.6pc lower than in the same period last year - the smallest fall in prices on this measure since October 2010. The average UK house price in March was £163,803, very close to the level in July 2011 when it was £163,765. Halifax said there were signs of a pick-up in house sales, with the number of completed house sales at its highest since late 2009. This increase in sales has led to a slight tightening in housing market conditions - measured by the ratio of house sales to the stock of unsold properties - in recent months, helping prop up house prices.