Strong demand for good-quality family houses underpinned the UK property market and helped support price growth towards the end of last year, according to estate agents Winkworth.

According to the group’s latest report, the average asking prices of properties on its books rose from £494,000 to £532,000 between August and November 2010.

Overall demand from buyers fell during the three months, however, as confidence waned and mortgage availability remained tight.

The number of properties for sale across the UK remained stable and above levels seen during the same period a year earlier. But it was the growing demand for high-calibre family homes that underpinned the market, fuelling an upward trend in asking prices.

Dominic Agace, Chief Executive of Winkworth, said: ‘It is the availability of finance which remains a key determinant of the level of activity in the housing market in 2011.

‘Until the banks feel comfortable to lend again, particularly at the bottom end of the market, volumes are likely to remain constrained.’

In the rental sector, demand continued to outstrip supply between August and November, with the number of properties to let sliding to a level more than 45 per cent lower than that of the same period in 2009.

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