It took an average of just 20 days to let a home between January and July this year according to a survey by Countrywide’s high-end brand Hamptons International.

This is three days quicker than in the first seven months of 2018 and the quickest time on record, says the agency.

Every region recorded a fall in the time it took to let a property, with London reporting the biggest year-on-year decrease. 

It took 19 days on average to let a home in the capital during the first seven months of the year, six days quicker than during the same period in 2018.  

Falling stock levels – down five per cent so far this year – combined with increasing applicant demand of 5.6 per cent have caused the fall.

The South West and East Midlands were the quickest regions to let a home, each took 18 days on average.  

By contrast during the first seven months of the year it took 24 days on average to let a home in the North East, although this was four days faster than the first seven months of 2018.

Increased demand for larger homes has meant that three-bed properties let fastest, taking 19.3 days on average. 

Hillingdon was the local authority where it took the least time to let a home in Great Britain.  

In the first seven months of 2019 it took 9.5 days on average to let a home there, half the average time it took in Great Britain overall.  Six out of the top 15 areas where it was quickest to let a home were in London.