There was a small rise in the number of rental properties To Let in March, boards firm Agency Express has said.

The monthly rise of 0.6% was much smaller than that of 3.3% for March last year.

Let properties fell by 3%.

In London, properties To Let fell by 8.8% and Let figures by 1.3%.

Stephen Watson, managing director of Agency Express, said: “March’s property market has had much focus on it, specifically for the pressures that agents have experienced in the build-up to the Stamp Duty deadlines.

“Even though we saw a small increase in new listings To Let, I am confident that this figure will rise as a result of landlords and agents pushing sales through.

“However, while we may see a spike in April figures, they may be artificially stimulated by recent activities, and therefore we should look beyond April’s market for a truer figure.”