An estate agency boards supplier has reported a major increase in the number of both To Let and Let boards.

Agency Express reports a 12.5% monthly increase in To Let boards going up in April and an 8.6% increase in Let boards following the buy-to-let buying stampede before the Stamp Duty surcharge deadline.

The rise swims against the usual patter. Agency Express says that April is traditionally a down month for both To Let and Let boards going up and that “igures for April 2016 are the best on record”.

In April last year, To Let boards had a -11.4% change  and Let boards a -15.9% decrease.

London is said in the report to have benefited most from the rise in activity last month, with a 21.1% increase in To Let boards and what Agency Express describes as a “robust” 30.4% increase in Let boards.

The north east was the odd region out, with ‘To Let’ boards falling -4.6%.

Agency Express managing director  Stephen Watson said April’s figures had been artificially stimulated, and cautioned: “It is important to look beyond April’s figures for a more balanced view of the UK lettings market.”