The number of home sales picked up by a quarter month on month in May following a plunge in April as a stamp duty holiday ended, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures.

Across the UK, around 81,470 home sales were recorded provisionally in May, which was 25% higher than April but a 12% fall compared with May 2024.

Stamp duty discounts became less generous for some homebuyers from April, with people rushing to complete deals before the deadline. Stamp duty applies in England and Northern Ireland.

HMRC’s report said: “The increase in transactions for May follows decreased transactions for April, which were likely brought forward into March to take advantage of the higher thresholds.”

Tom Bill, head of UK residential research at Knight Frank, said: “Housing transactions are still clambering back to normal levels after the stamp duty cliff-edge earlier this year.”

He added: “One thing slowing down the process is the vast quantity of stock on the market, which means asking prices need to be kept realistic to trigger activity.

“At this halfway point in the year, the tariff and stamp duty chaos are largely behind us, but tax rise speculation ahead of the Budget could see some buyer hesitation creep back in.”

Nick Leeming, chairman of Jackson-Stops, said: “In the current market, it’s essential for sellers to remember there is always demand for a sensibly-priced property.”

Nathan Emerson, chief executive officer of property professionals’ body Propertymark, said: “We have seen positivity regarding the number of properties coming to the market.”

Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said data from the website indicates that “new sales are being agreed at the fastest rate for four years, as more homes for sale means more buyers in the market, with the stamp duty changes in the distant past in the minds of home buyers”.

He said: “The market remains on track for 1.15 million sales in 2025, up 5% on 2024 levels as more households move home.”

Amy Reynolds, head of sales at London-based estate agent Antony Roberts, said: “The spring/summer market is traditionally a time when people prefer to move and this is being reflected in transaction numbers.

“There’s plenty of desire to buy in the core price ranges and we’re also seeing a rise in first-time buyer activity, even though the stamp duty holiday has ended.

“Many are receiving help from family and being driven by pressures in the rental market, where demand far exceeds supply and rental listings have dropped sharply.”