HOME-owners' confidence in the property market has been boosted, a survey suggests.

Some 84 per cent of home-owners expect property values in their area to increase over the coming six months - up from 70 per cent when similar research was carried out in November, according to website Zoopla.

Across Britain, only one in 12 people in the latest survey expect prices to fall in their area before the end of the year.

On average, those expecting price rises predict almost a seven per cent uplift in the next six months - also an increase compared with the November study, when the typical expectation was close to five per cent.

Home-owners in the East Midlands and the East of England are the most optimistic about their local property market - with 93 per cent and 90 per cent respectively predicting house price rises.

Zoopla spokesman Lawrence Hall said: "It's encouraging to see a bounce-back in consumer confidence in the market - it's the largest increase we've seen since 2016.

"This shows home-owners are starting to regain their confidence in the property market, with those in the East of the UK having the most optimism."

In the North West, 84 per cent of home-owners surveyed are anticipating a price rise in the next half-year, according to Zoopla.

At the other end of the spectrum, North-East England is the least confident region, with just under two-thirds (63 per cent) expecting rises - although this is a big increase for the region compared with November 2017, when less than half (41 per cent) thought values in their area would increase.

The findings were released after another property website, Rightmove, reported that the average price tag on a home reached a record high of £308,075 in May.

Rightmove warned, however, that the current market is becoming "increasingly price-sensitive", and said sellers need to pitch their price at a tempting level to entice buyers.