London (AFP)

Between the pandemic that has prompted many city dwellers to seek more space, and a moratorium on a tax on property transactions, house prices in the United Kingdom have soared to record highs in recent months.

In June, it reached 230,700 pounds (nearly 270,000 euros) on average for a property, according to data from the real estate classifieds site Zoopla, published on Tuesday.

This is 30% more than during the previous market peak in 2007, before the financial crisis, and 5.4% more than a year ago.

The jump in real estate prices was fueled in particular by a shortage of goods compared to supply with a 25% drop in the volumes put up for sale compared to the same period a year ago, specifies Zoopla.

The search for space and especially gardens during confinement, with the rise of teleworking, has boosted house prices in the United Kingdom.

On the other hand, the price of apartments increased much less quickly (+ 1.4% over one year).

The moratorium put in place by Boris Johnson's government on the tax on real estate transactions is also a major contributor to price inflation, but will end at the end of September.

In May, the National Statistics Office (ONS) had already noted a 10.2% jump over the twelve months at the end of March in residential property prices, the strongest growth since August 2007, which contributes to an acceleration inflation in the country.

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