THE number of mortgages approved for people buying a home fell back during June as housing market activity remained subdued, figures showed today.

A total of 34,813 loans were approved for house purchase during the month, down from 36,418 in May and the lowest level since February, when the market was hit by a combination of bad weather and the end of the stamp duty holiday.

Net mortgage lending, which strips out redemptions and repayments, was also down on the previous month at £2.1 billion, compared with £2.5 billion in May, according to the British Bankers’ Association.