Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at Rics, said: “The rise in new instructions in January, although modest, is very welcome. However, with buy-to-let investors rushing to get into the market ahead of the stamp duty hike, the near-term pressure on prices is, if anything, intensifying despite a higher level of supply."
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This came as Esurv, the chartered surveyors, revealed that house purchase approvals shot up 20.6pc in January compared with December. Last month also saw the highest number of monthly house purchase approvals since October 2007.
Richard Sexton, director of Esurv, said: “Buy-to-let approvals contributed to the growth in January home lending.
"Concerns about the sector’s growth have sparked a wave of legislation but as stamp duty changes come into effect this April, there’s been a rush to get buy-to-let loans approved.
"Many have predicted a narrowing of the buy-to-let sector but actually what we’re seeing in lending quarters appears to be the opposite."
The Rics survey also found that the increase in the supply of properties to market was largely focused in London, where 58pc more respondents noted an increase than in last month's survey.
Mr Rubinsohn added: “How the tax changes planned for the buy-to-let sector over the next few years play out remains to be seen, but there are concerns raised in the survey that some existing landlords will look to either gradually scale back on their portfolios or exit the market altogether as the more penal regime begins to bite.
"Against this backdrop, it is perhaps not surprising that the key Rics indicators points to further rent (as well as house price) increases.”