The number of valuations conducted only dipped by -4% in April compared to April 2009, according to the latest research by Connells Survey and Valuation, despite fears over the impact of the impending election.

In the three months ending in April, valuation activity actually rose by +3% compared to the three months ending in January. There were +43% more valuations conducted than in the same period in 2009.

Ross Bowen, managing director of Connells Survey and Valuation, said: “The housing market has continued to recover steadily. There were concerns that in the build-up to the election, buyers and sellers would be distracted and sit on their hands - but that hasn’t been the case. Confidence is returning and this has been helped by marginal improvements in mortgage availability and news of the doubling of the stamp-duty threshold. In the past three months, the housing market has performed better than the same time in 2009. ”

The strong performance of the valuations conducted has been driven by increased activity from homeowners looking to sell. In the three months to April, there were more than a third more valuations conducted (+37%) than in the preceding three months to January. This represents a 39% increase in activity compared to the same period of 2009.

Bowen said: “ With the abolition of HIPs on the political agenda, there was a concern that many sellers would to wait to see whether they might save money as a result of new Government policy. We have also seen the trend of house price inflation continue from the trough in February 2009. Current homeowners have seen their properties regain the value lost in the downturn, and see now as a great time to move.”