But there is a shortage of homes for them to buy, with stock on agents' books close to historic lows, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics).

In Carlisle, Karl Dixon, a director at BPK Estate Agents, said: "September was a fantastic month for us. We sold 31 houses, that’s a house every day! Compared to last year that’s over double."

However, while home buyer demand rose last month for the first time in six months, the number of new instructions being received by agents in the region fell during September.

Mr Dixon confirmed: "We have noticed that fewer people are putting their houses on the market in October. We are crying out for more properties as the demand is huge.

"The buyers are certainly back and we would love to hear from anyone who is thinking of selling their home. There is still plenty of time left this year to sell your property and with the uncertainty surrounding 2017, we believe this to be a perfect time to at least try."

This further drop in new properties coming on to the market continues a pattern that extends back to the middle of 2014, with a brief exception around the turn of the year when some vendors saw opportunity linked to the April hike in stamp duty for investors.

As a result, the average level of stock on estate agents books in the region remains close to historic lows at just 63 properties.

The drop in housing supply alongside the increase in buyer demand is expected to slightly push up prices in the near term and by rather more in the longer term.