Richard Freshwater, of estate agency Cheffins, said the lack of stock was the biggest he had seen in 20 years. 
“On average, every house we put on the market at the moment sees over 40 requests for viewings, all from buyers who are in the position to move.
“This level of interest is throughout the market at all price levels, with demand for large country homes at the same rate as the more affordable, smaller city-based options,” he added. 
It comes as the most expensive areas of central London, which bore the brunt of the market drops last year, recorded a surge in activity in March. Separate research by property analysts LonRes found new instructions in Londons prime housing market were 72pc higher last month than in March 2020. Exchanges in the first quarter of 2021 were also 40pc higher than those in the same three months last year.  
While all price brackets in prime London saw an annual increase in sales, the sub-£1m market was the busiest. 
Marcus Dixon, of LonRes, said: “This is unsurprising given this is where the biggest saving, as a proportion of total buying costs, was to be made [with the stamp duty break]. 
“But the top end of the market did well too.  Despite travel restrictions still being in place, limiting overseas buyer demand and the stamp duty holiday being of less financial importance we saw transactions rise in this market as well.”