The average number of houses sold per chartered surveyor’s estate agent office jumped to its highest level in six years during the first quarter of this year.

The RICS said this morning that on average, branches sold 22.7 homes in the three months to the end of March – the highest number since February 2008.

The RICS also reports that buyer inquiries increased everywhere but in Wales, and that price increases were most noticeable in the south west and east midlands.

Simon Rubinsohn, RICS chief economist, said: “Buyers seem to be looking to test the market right across the country, not just in the usual hot spots of the south east.

“That said, it is a major concern that we are not seeing enough houses coming on to the market.

“For the market to operate effectively, we desperately need more homes in areas where people want to buy and want to live. Until this happens we’re likely to see prices to continue to increase and it is going to be ever harder for many first-time buyers to conceive of ever owning their own home.”

The RICS survey is based on 344 responses, covering 513 branches.

* The RICS is to relocate its UK operational headquarters within Coventry to an enormous new development.

The RICS has agreed terms with developer Friargate Coventry to lease 36,000 sq ft of office space at the 37-acre site.

The entire Friargate development, when fully completed, will bring up to 15,000 permanent jobs to the city and create Coventry’s first business quarter.

Sean Tompkins, chief executive of RICS, said: “At RICS, we are keen to continue our strong relationship with Coventry, and believe our new building will be a fitting destination for surveyors from across the country and indeed the world.

“It will connect, complement and support our global headquarters on Parliament Square, London.”

Work on the new RICS building is expected to start next year. The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

The RICS’s operational headquarters are currently at a business park in Coventry. Its prestigious London HQ is in Westminster, directly opposite Parliament.