The number of house sales in the UK in August increased by 0.9% compared to July, according to the latest Agency Express Property Activity Index.

This reversed the previous two months trend of declining house sales. The number of properties being put up for sale also increased slightly by 0.5%.

The number of houses ‘Sold’ in August was the fourth highest month in 2010 and compared to August 2009, monthly house sales were up 6.2% and against August 2008, they were up by 50.7%.

Stephen Watson, managing director, Agency Express, said: “Despite being in unchartered waters regarding the Government’s austerity measures and talk of a double-dip recession