THE HOUSING market had a surprisingly good Christmas last year, with prices rising for the second consecutive month after a 15-month decline, a survey showed yesterday.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said that house-price growth had accelerated last month. Its balance of surveyors reporting a rise in prices minus those reporting a fall rose to plus 8, from plus 4 the previous month after 15 months of negative numbers.

Confidence and activity both improved, RICS said, in what is generally a quiet month in estate agents’ calendars. Sales completions rose by 8 per cent in the three months to December, their highest level since September 2004.

Price rises were led by Scotland and London, while the Midlands and East Anglia continued to see slight falls.

Surveyors said that they expected modest price rises in the next three months, with expectations that interest rates will fall further boosting buyer confidence. The number of new buyers rose for the seventh month in a row, the longest unbroken run since 1999.

A separate survey from haart, the estate agents, showed that activity levels in London’s property market doubled in the year to December.

RICS said: “Home buying and selling is being supported by a healthy job market and business climate, which looks set to continue for now.”

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