Figures show property inquiry rise

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The rise in interest saw surveyors express confidence that sales will continue to climb, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Around 41% more surveyors reported a rise in inquiries than those who saw a fall, from 32% more in March. It is the highest figure since July 1999.

This rose to 70% in London, where the balance of surveyors reporting increased buyer interest was the highest since the survey began in 1978.

But RICS said transactions still remained at low levels, despite a slight upturn.

Estate agents sold an average of 10.6 properties over the past three months, up from 9.7.

The rise in sales for March was the first reported in the survey since the end of 2007.

RICS said April's survey was the first since August 2006 showing surveyors were universally optimistic about transactions.

Meanwhile, the key sales to stock ratio picked up for the fourth month in a row, indicating some stabilisation in house prices may occur later in the year.

RICS said 59.9% of surveyors reported house prices fell last month, up from 72.1% in March. The figures provided the latest set of more positive data on the housing market, although economists continue to warn that any revival is likely to be a long way off, with house prices remaining well behind the upturn in activity.