THE UK's mini-housing boom has helped push property sales for York-based Persimmon for the first quarter of 2021.

The housebuilder has reported a strong start to the year with sales up by more than 20 per cent on the previous year.

The FTSE100 company said house sales so far in 2021 are running 11 per cent higher than the year before the coronavirus pandemic.

Forward sales for the period from January 1 until now are worth £3bn, up 23 per cent from £2.4bn year-on-year, and 11 per cent ahead of the same point in 2019.

Prices are also rising; the average selling price for homes sold to private owner occupiers now stands at £252,000 compared to £244,500 a year ago.

Customer enquiry levels remained 'encouraging' throughout the period and its average private sales rate for the year to date is well ahead of 2020. This is expected given the impact of the pandemic from week 12 last year, but is also up 17 per cent on the same period in 2019.

Dean Finch, group chief executive, said it had been a strong start to the year with build rates at pre-COVID-19 levels and first-half volumes approaching those of 2019.

Persimmon was also buying land, he added, with 6,000 plots across 29 locations acquired this year.

The company also intends to pay out two additional interim dividend payments of 55p per share each during 2021.

Mr Finch said: "Persimmon has made a strong start to the year with current forward sales 23 per cent ahead of last year and 11 per cent ahead of the same point in 2019. Our build rates continue at pre-Covid levels and we remain on track to deliver first half volumes approaching those of the first half of 2019.

"We are progressing our land holdings and taking advantage of good quality investment opportunities, bringing 6,000 plots across 29 locations into the business in the period and securing a strong pipeline for the future. Our current outlet network is expected to remain stable at approximately 300 outlets on average throughout the year.

"Demand for newly built homes remains healthy and the group's sales rates are encouraging. Persimmon's high quality land holdings, balance sheet strength and liquidity provide a strong platform to continue to deliver the homes the country needs, underpinning long-term sustainable returns for the benefit of all of its stakeholders."

“In March, I outlined our five key priorities to ensure Persimmon achieves our new ambition and secures a reputation for providing both outstanding service and outstanding value.

"We are making good progress and pleasingly our HBF customer satisfaction score1 remains ahead of the five-star threshold.

“Demand for newly built homes remains healthy and the Group’s sales rates are encouraging. Persimmon’s high quality land holdings, balance sheet strength and liquidity provide a strong platform to continue to deliver the homes the country needs, underpinning long-term sustainable returns for the benefit of all of its stakeholders.”

Persimmon plc is holding its Annual General Meeting at 12pm today.

Build rates across developments remain at pre-pandemic levels.

Mr Finch added: "We have continued to take advantage of good quality selective land investment opportunities during the period resulting in net land spend of £140m - 6,000 plots have been brought into the business in 29 locations across the UK during the period."

As announced in February 2021, the Group set aside £75m towards helping occupants of multi-storey properties built by Persimmon and all relevant management companies, managing agents, or building owners have been contacted and this work is progressing.

The Group also recently announced net zero carbon targets for its homes in use and its operations and are actively assessing initiatives to assist in achieving these objectives.

Having already adopted the principles of the Living Wage Foundation within direct pay policies, we are now seeking full Foundation accreditation.

In addition, the Group recently donated £250,000 to the Mail Force campaign to provide laptops to children in need, to support their education from home and subsequent life opportunities.