SDLT receipts slump by 10% as high-value property deals fizzle

House prices are being inflated by "frenzied" buying activity and a continued shortage of properties being listed for sale. There's a 225,000 shortfall of homes for sale, estimates Rightmove;

Zoopla estimates that 50% fewer homes will be sold in 2020 than in 2019... The current rate of deals is about 10% of the usual March tally - a market more akin to late December than Springtime.

Chestertons reports rising demand but continued short supply in prime London locations