Hometrack has reported that new sellers made up some of the ‘holiday quarter’s’ lost ground by increasing their average asking price by 0.7%, equating to £1,596.

Heavy falls in the previous two months have still left sellers with a deficit of 3.0% (£7,255) over the three months of the summer downturn, which this year was again exacerbated by stagnant market conditions.

Miles Shipside, director of Rightmove, said: “New sellers are asking £7