The number of homes sold in the UK during the past three months reached its highest level since January 2010 as buyers across the country began to return to the market, says a new survey.

This month’s report from the RICS says chartered surveyors in the UK sold on average 17.9 properties during the three months to May.

Peter Bolton King, RICS global residential director, said: “While low compared to the market peak of six years ago, it still represents the highest reading since January 2010.

"Sales are expected to continue their rise over the next three months with a net balance of 35 per cent more respondents predicting transaction levels will grow.”

An upturn in buyers testing the market is a key driver in this rise in activity says the report. Interest from would-be buyers has now risen for four consecutive months and, during May, 30 per cent more chartered surveyors reported rises rather than falls in new buyer enquiries.

“This represents the highest reading since October 2009 and is a sign that market confidence is gradually being restored,” added Mr Bolton King.

Prices up edged last month with five per cent more chartered surveyors reporting increases rather than decreases. Until recent months price stability has been confined largely to the south east of England and London, whereas now this is beginning to extend to other areas of the UK, says the RICS.

With the sales market maintaining its slow recovery, chartered surveyors say they expect house prices to rise over the coming three months, with a net balance of 20 per cent more respondents predicting growth.

In the rental market, tenant demand continued to rise during May, although the rate of growth has begun to slow in the last few months. Surveyors predict further rises in rents over the coming three months.

Mr Bolton King added: ”May was an interesting month for the housing market. More people decided to get out there and view property and more transactions went through than in quite some time.

“Most encouragingly of all, though, is that stability is not confined purely to London and the south east, as has been the case, but is now starting to extend to areas right across the country.”