The number of homes changing hands reached 10,327 in September, up 6% on 2010 and 3.2% on August according to new figures from the land registry office.

However, over the first nine months of the year, house sales are still down 3.7% compared with the same period in 2010.
The rise in September sales was strongest in Flevoland (up nearly 24%) and lowest in Zuid-Holland province (up nearly 4%).
The government is hopeful that sales will continue to rise following its decision to slash property transfer tax from 6% to 2% for a one-year period.