The average price of properties coming to market has reached a record high of £327,797, up 2.1% on a monthly basis, according to Rightmove.
Nigel Purves, chief executive of Wayhome, added: “Now we’re in April, the base of last year’s market closure will make any annual comparisons look stark.
"However, it is clear that demand for property continues to grow, and asking prices increasing by 0.8% reflects relatively optimistic seller sentiment for the months ahead, bolstered by the Stamp Duty extension until June.
“Looking forwards, flexibility is the name of the game. More than a quarter of the UK’s renters and homeowners have found that their property needs have changed since the outbreak of COVID-19, with demand for space skyrocketing, both indoors and out.
"It’s unacceptable that the UK’s housing market forces people into the wrong properties in the wrong areas for their needs, often based on unfair mortgage lending criteria.
"If we want a more sustainable housing system, we need to promote more innovative routes to home ownership, to ensure that both buyers and sellers get the outcome they deserve.”
Tahir Farooqui, chief executive of Canopy, said: "Another rise in house prices will be a kick in the teeth to hopeful first-time buyers, further widening the gap between them and their first home.
"The stamp duty holiday has no doubt stimulated the surge of activity in the market, but we do need to question whether it has helped the right people.
"For those looking to enter the market a stamp duty holiday doesn’t take away from the fact that house prices are just too high and securing an affordable mortgage is near impossible.
“With the average renter reluctantly spending £64,000 on their monthly payments before they buy, they need to be putting this money to good use.
"Rent tracking offers tenants the opportunity to use the monthly payments to build up their credit score, ensuring access to a wider range of financial products when the time to secure a mortgage arises.”