London was the only English region where annual inflation was higher in April than March.

Home improvement loans now make up 9.7% of all secured lending.

Buyer demand is now 3% ahead of this time last year, while the number of homes coming to market is 11% ahead. 

Sales market sentiment remains subdued, but buyer demand and sales activity have steadied, while near-term expectations are less negative.

House prices have fallen by 0.4% in May, as the market adjusts after April’s stamp duty deadline.

The intermediary-only lender is also extending 95% LTV lending to new builds.

First-time buyer and homemover completions increased by 113% and 140% in March.

Market activity is holding up well following the end of the stamp duty holiday.

However, the more relaxed borrowing drives up house prices, the less impact there will be on transactions.

Simon Jackson, managing director of SDL Surveying, explores the reasons 'down valuations' tend to crop up more often in remortgage cases than in purchase transactions.