A majority of estate agents are reporting that house prices rose over the summer months, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors says, the first time in two years that optimism has outweighed pessimism on this survey.

In August, almost a quarter of agents reported that house prices in their area had risen over the previous three months, compared with 14 per cent saying prices had fallen. The net balance of 10.7 per cent was the highest reading since May 2007.