The latest figures from Auction House suggest that the auctions market may be picking up faster than the process of selling by private treaty.

In a week in which the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said that the number of homes for sale has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1978, Auction House is reporting that entries for the group’s June auctions has seen a year- on-year increase of over 50%.

Demand has improved across all property types and in most areas of the country. There are 375 lots entered in Auction House sales in June this year, compared to only 240 lots entered in Auction House sales in June 2014 – an increase of 56%.

Commenting on the figures, Founding Director Roger Lake said: “With 40 auction rooms spread across the UK, Auction House is able to keep its finger on the pulse of salesroom activity levels. We’ve noticed a marked rise in the number of sellers choosing the auctions route, with our teams experiencing the upswing at a time when estate agents are short of stock. “This further underlines the growing appeal of the speed and certainty offered by auction, and the impressive prices that are being achieved through our salerooms across the UK.”

Several auction rooms reported increases in the number of entries, including Auction House London, Auction House Birmingham and Auction House Manchester - all of which sold record numbers of lots in the past month. Indeed, there were so many people attending Auction House London’s latest sale at The Landmark Hotel in Marylebone Road (Thursday 4 June), that the venue had to be moved at the last minute from another room in the building, in order to accommodate them all.

Roger Lake added: “There’s been a noticeable upturn in lot entries in recent months, as well as a significant boost in auction room attendances. We believe it’s a sure sign that the auctions sector has weathered the uncertainties surrounding the general election, and seems set fair for the second half of 2015 and beyond.”