Property market 'still buoyant'

The UK housing market remains buoyant, according to the latest survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Prices in England, Wales and Scotland rose in March for the fifth month in a row, RICS said.

Among its members, 13% more of them saw prices rise than saw them fall as the industry showed "a lot of optimism".

The number of potential buyers on the books of RICS members has also gone up for the tenth month in a row.

RICS spokesman Ian Perry, said: "People traditionally put houses on the market in the new year and sales pick up around Easter.

"Agents are clearly expecting this year to be no exception and our figures are showing a lot of optimism in the industry."

The RICS survey found that prices were rising fastest in London, the south-west of England and in Scotland.