UK rents fall for first time since 2009, plus peer-to-peer lending left me in the red

London sees biggest drop in rents, as UK property prices also slide for third month in a row. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

Hello and welcome to this week’s Money Talks – a roundup of the week’s biggest stories and some things you may have missed.

Money news

UK house prices fall for third month in a row for first time since financial crisis

Average UK rents fall for first time in more than seven years

Revealed: chocolate and drinks shrink since Brexit vote with no price drop

Companies have largely denied the influence of Brexit on the sizes of products, including the redesigned Toblerone bar.

Letting agents found charging tenants more than £800 in fees

Keep women in academia by providing childcare, historian urges universities

Feature

Peer-to-peer lending promised 6%, but I’ve been left red-faced and in the red

James Patterson hoped his £1,000 investment in Funding Circle would reap returns 10 times more than his bank offered. But 18 months on, he’s losing money. Illustration: Leon Edler

In pictures

Homes with designer gardens

For sale: a manor house in Surrey with gardens laid out by Gertrude Jekyll.

In the spotlight

The Costa dream turned sour and homebuyers are estimated to have lost £5.3bn – now Spanish banks are finally paying out reports Stephen Burgen

It has been estimated British buyers are owed £5.3bn in deposits and stage payments on properties purchased off-plan, most of which were never completed. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo

Consumer champions

‘I’m irritated you even asked’: What’s the worst customer service you’ve had?

One reader’s polite inquiry to replace plug plants was met with outrage by the nursery. Send us your nominations for rude customer care. Photograph: Alamy

Spot check in public by Aldi security guard was dehumanising

I was badly let down by Bank of Scotland’s bereavement service

Fighting Petplan tooth and claw over our cat’s claim

Scottish Power in the dark about my mother’s electricity supply

Money deals

Get great value annual multi-trip or single trip holiday cover with Guardian travel insurance, provided by Voyager.

You could save when you send money overseas, get free online transfers, great exchange rates and expert guidance from Guardian money transfers, provided by Moneycorp.