January saw a 27% increase in valuation activity year-on-year, according to latest research by Connells Survey and Valuation.

It represents the second successive annual increase in residential valuation activity in January. Last month, the total number of valuations for residential property increased by 9% compared to December 2010, although Connells says a proportion of this figure can be attributed to delayed transactions and valuations which had to be put back because of Christmas holidays and the bad weather in December.

Paul Staley, corporate services director of Connells Survey and Valuation, said: “The onset of Christmas – and December’s arctic weather – boosted activity in January. A large proportion of valuations were rescheduled in December