THE latest house price figures paint a mixed picture of the property market across the UK and reveal landlords’ plans to exit the market.

Research from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors shows sweeping regional differences in terms of house price growth.

According to the survey it carried out on its members, six per cent more than last year have seen prices rise across the region.

However in London, 56 per cent more have seen a decline in prices – posting the weakest result since 2008.

In terms of property sales, there has been barely any change in the past month, with respondents seeing a four per cent fall rather than an increase.

Lack of supply continues to be an issue across most of the country. However in London there has been an increase in new instructions to surveyors. So while property stocks outside the capital are falling, in the city they are rising.

As part of the August survey respondents were asked whether they thought landlords would exit the market going forward. Nationally 61 per cent of surveyors said they thought landlords would exit the market in the year ahead and only 12 per cent said they thought numbers would increase.

Paul Bagust, RICS UK commercial property director, described these figures as “concerning” and attributed them to the recent policy changes affecting landlords: “The number of landlords exiting the market due to recent policy changes is concerning, especially given house price rises. A functioning private rented sector is crucial to a healthy housing market and it’s predicted that over 20 per cent of all households will be PRS (private rental sector) by 2020.”

He went on to say that the RICS is hoping to address the situation through policy changes: “RICS is part of a sector wide collaboration developing a revised industry-led PRS Code of Practice, to raise standards for both consumers and landlords, bring clarity to those already in the market on various policy measures, and encourage landlords back into a professionalised market.”