There were 79,210 property transactions in April 2013 compared to 83,150 in March. However, transactions rose slightly in 2012-13 on the previous financial year.

HMRC stated: “The trend over the past eighteen months is broadly flat, with a peak and trough in March and April 2012 caused by the ending of Stamp Duty first-time buyer’s relief.

“The seasonally adjusted number of transactions rose steadily from mid-2012, although the latest month has seen a slight fall.”

Roughly 7,000 first-time buyers per month benefited from Stamp Duty relief between March 2010 and March 2012. In the final month of relief, the number of such transactions doubled. Purchases fell in April 2012 as a result, meaning this year’s figures are 14% higher compared to the same time last year.

Despite the downward trend indicated by property transaction figures, the Council of Mortgage Lenders estimated gross mortgage lending rose 4% in April after a busy March.