Estate agents are betting on a surge in property sales next year once the uncertainty of today’s general election and the Brexit saga releases pent-up demand in the housing market, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has said.

Although the national poll has exacerbated the traditional pre-Christmas slowdown in housing sales, a net balance of 35pc of agents are confident of rising sales in 12 months’ time, the highest since February 2017.

After a year of anaemic growth for the housing market – and outright price falls in areas like London – a 33pc balance are also expecting higher prices across the UK.

Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at Rics, said: “Confidence is critical to a well-functioning housing market and whatever happens in the general election today, it is important that the new government provides reassurance both over the stewardship of the economy and the ongoing challenges around Brexit.

“Significantly despite the inevitable-near term concerns, the feedback regarding the medium term view of the market remains surprisingly sanguine.”