Some 56 per cent are positive about putting their homes up for sale, the highest score of this measure since the survey started in 2011.

Regionally, positive sentiment towards selling is highest in the East and South East, where 65 per cent think it will be a good time to sell, compared with only 36 per cent in Scotland.

Craig McKinlay, mortgages director at Halifax, said: “We’ve seen a strong start to the year with transaction volumes rising, with the overall sentiment regarding the outlook for the housing market continuing to improve.

“The increase in optimism is partly due to stronger house prices and this shift could provide a much needed increase in the supply of properties available for sale during the rest of the year.”

Meanwhile, sentiment towards buying has remained relatively stable since the end of 2013.

Some 60 per cent of respondents expect the next year to be a good time to buy.

Residents of Wales were the most optimistic, while the difference between those thinking it will be a good time to buy rather than a bad time was the lowest in London.

Nearly three quarters (71 per cent) predict the average UK house price will rise over the next year.