Property prices have risen for the third consecutive month and reached a six-month high last month, government data showed on Wednesday.

The Rating and Valuation Department said private home prices rose by 1.4 percent in March, slightly down from the 2.4 percent reported in February.

But compared to March last year, prices were down by 8 percent.

Prices for small and medium-sized units last month were 1.3 percent higher than they were in February, and those for large-sized homes went up by 0.8 percent.

Private rents, meanwhile, rose by 1.1 percent last month.