Rightmove, the UK’s leading property search website, backed suggestions of a return of confidence in the housing market as it pointed to improved traffic generated by online househunters and a recovery in advertising revenues paid by estate agents and developers.

In a trading update covering the four months to October 31, Rightmove said site traffic was 35 per cent higher than the same period last year, while the number of advertisers had edged up 5 per cent since a low point in February to stand at 17,600.