The survey says demand from potential buyers dropped off slightly in June, with a net balance of 10% more chartered surveyors reporting a fall in new buyer enquiries.

"This was mirrored by a lacklustre level of new homes coming onto the market as new instructions fell back for the second successive month," it said.

House prices also continued to fall, with 22% more surveyors reporting price falls rather than rises, the weakest reading since October 2011.