YORK estate agency William H Brown says there has’s been an increase in the number of home owners in putting their properties on the market across the UK.

According to new figures released by William H Brown’s parent company, national estate agency network Sequence, in the first seven months of this year there has been a 14 per cent increase in prospective sellers requesting an appraisal of their home from its branches, compared to the same period last year.

It also reports an eight per cent increase in the number of homes it has been instructed to sell.

There are, however, still six buyers chasing every property that becomes available, meaning competition amongst buyers remains fierce and more homes are needed to meet demand.

Mark Thompson, William H Brown area director, said: “It is very encouraging that more home owners, probably spurred on by rising house prices and the huge number of buyers out there, are taking steps to sell their home.

“As part of our national network, we have recorded a ten per cent increase in sales as buyers scramble to secure property in an increasingly competitive local market.

“In order to maintain a healthy housing market we need to see a greater supply of homes becoming available to buy.

“This is good for buyers who will have greater choice and should help promote sustainable house price growth rather than a boom and bust cycle which restricts buyers and sellers at every level of the market.”