The proportion of agency stock available for purchase – as opposed to properties marked as under offer or SSTC – has hit a two-year low but could be boosted now the General Election has removed much of the political uncertainty, Rightmove claims.

Data from the portal showed that the number of sales agreed so far this year up to December 7 has fallen 3% annually, while the number of new properties coming to market is down by 7%.

However, since the Conservatives clinched a majority of 80, Rightmove is predicting a 2% rise in asking prices.

It claims this will give home-movers a “window of certainty” for an active spring moving season.

Miles Shipside, housing market analyst at Rightmove, said: “With much of the political uncertainty removed, we expect that the number of properties for sale will recover as more new sellers come to market, making up some of this year’s lost ground.

“However, property supply is still limited, with estate agents having the lowest proportion of properties available for sale in two years, and this will fuel modest gains in the national average asking price of property coming to market.

“The fundamentals remain sound with low interest rates, lenders competing to lend, high employment, and average wage growth outstripping house price growth and helping buyer affordability.

“The statistics for 2019 encouragingly show that the ‘have-to’ and ‘life-stage’ markets have been carrying on, and we hope that the more certain outlook would encourage many would-be discretionary movers to finally get off the fence.”

Rightmove’s figures for this month show average asking prices up 0.8% annually and down 0.9% on a monthly basis to £300,025.

Average time on the market increased to 67 days in November from 64 in October and 65 a year before, while the average stock per agent branch is now 50.

Shipside added that the housing market will only return to full health once Brexit is in the past and if affordability issues are addressed.

He said: “The final deal with the EU and trade deals with many other countries are still to be negotiated, and Brexit will continue to dominate the political agenda.

“In addition, the main driver of a healthy sustainable market is steadily improving affordability, and while this is moving slightly in the right direction, more needs to be done to help aspiring first-time buyers.

“First-time buyers are the drivers of the market. Too many are struggling to save the necessary deposits, and not all of them want to buy a new-build home through Help to Buy.

“More ways of getting more people on to the ladder would help to limit rising rents, increase liquidity and transaction numbers in the housing market, and make the dreams of their own roofs above their heads a reality for many more of the younger generation.”