Auction houses are reporting record lots as landlords seek to sell and buy properties before the April 1 deadline when a 3% Stamp Duty surcharge kicks in.

Network Auctions is reporting its largest-ever catalogue for its next sale, on February 25.

There are 108 lots listed, with over half generated by partner estate agents.

Competitor Auction House is reporting a 13% year-on-year rise in lots, with 703 entries into its first sale of the year.

Allsop has 311 lots coming up, on February 18, compared with 255 last year, and another auctioneer, London-based McHugh and Co, has 99 properties to go under the hammer, compared with the the normal 50 to 75 at this time of year.

Gary Murphy, residential partner and auctioneer at Allsop,  said: “We’ve seen quite a substantial ramping up of private sellers and it’s to say that buy-to-let changes will have influenced many people to cash out.”