Property research company Hometrack has revealed that Bradford, Leeds and Hull were among the UK’s property hotspots in 2005. The company’s latest monthly house price survey also puts West Yorkshire and Derbyshire among only three counties to have shown increases in average prices over the year, while nationally the poll of 7,500 estate agents shows a 1.3% decline. Hometrack’s director of research Richard Donnell said: “Over 2005 we have seen the lowest growth in house prices for over a decade. Despite signs of improving demand over the autumn, buyers are still price sensitive and we expect values to rise by just 1% in 2006.” Central London and the City saw the greatest rise with a 1.8% increase to an average of £420,600 in December from a year ago. (Independent, FT)