A north-south divide has emerged as the property market hits autumn, Rightmove has claimed.

The price of property coming to market on Rightmove for October increased to £309,122, up 4.2% annually, above the 4% rate of growth during September, according to its latest house price index.

The figure is also up 0.9% on the previous month and it is just 0.4%, or £1,349, below the all-time high reached in June.

The portal claims it’s a sellers’ market in the north while buyers hold the upper hand in the south.

The six northern regions (north-west, north-east, Yorkshire & the Humber, east midlands, west midlands and Wales) saw an 11% fall in the total available stock for sale compared to the same period in 2015, continuing the downward trend over the last few years.

In contrast, September’s figures for the four southern regions (Greater London, south-east, East of England and south-west) saw total available stock for sale rise by 16% compared to the same period in 2015.

Overall the average stock per agent remained at the same level as in August when it was 60 properties.

Average time to sell increased from 62 to 64 days in September, which is still two days faster than the same month last year.

Miles Shipside, Rightmove director and housing market analyst, said: “After the referendum result and the usual summer slowdown, estate agents’ experiences appear to fall into one of two camps, with a definite north/south divide.

“Agents in the northern half of the country reported a quiet week or two after the surprise result of the Brexit vote, but most then saw a quick return to good levels of buyer enquiries and subsequent sales agreed.

“In contrast, many in the southern regions saw more prolonged hesitancy among buyers, with it taking until September before a marked pick-up in activity.

“What has continued is the overall upwards trajectory in the average price of property coming to market, underpinned by years of inadequate new-build supply. After some price falls over the quieter summer period, the national average is now less than a couple of thousand pounds shy of its all-time high recorded in June.”

Brian Murphy, head of lending at the Mortgage Advice Bureau, said: “Overall, the picture painted by Rightmove today suggests that market confidence is returning, at least for the short term, with those who are motivated to move due to lifestyle changes, or indeed wanting to take their first steps on to the property ladder, maintaining their course of action and putting their best foot forward.

“The continued response from lenders in terms of competitive downwards pricing and increasingly flexible lending criteria will no doubt provide an additionally welcome helping hand for those who are committed to moving, and if the current momentum is maintained, then a degree of market stability would be quite possible for the rest of this year at least.”

* The LSL House Price Index, released on Saturday, has selling prices at £292,763 for September, up 3.5% annually.

Prices for the East of England led the charge again, up 7.5% for the year to £309,835, ahead of the south-east, up 7.2% at £580,930, and the south-west, up 4.2% to £265,170.