According to a Post Office survey, the number of Brits planning to buy a property in the next five years has risen to a third despite continued reliance on others to finance the move.

Almost half of those planning to buy were already homeowners, while two fifths were first-time buyers.

Post Office head of mortgages John Willcock said the changing lending landscape, housing market movement and the availability of more affordable mortgages may have cajoled many into feeling more confident about the future of the market.

But he added: “You may well think those looking to get their second or third step on the housing ladder are in a better financial position and no longer need to rely on the Bank of Mum and Dad.

“But the research goes to show the financial squeeze affects all homebuyers, not just those looking to get on the ladder for the first time.

“Now, more than ever, those looking for a mortgage or remortgage deal need to ensure they get the best deal available for them quickly and easily.”

Interest in property differed depending on region – almost half of Londoners and 37% in the South East were considering buying property over the next five years, compared to a quarter of those in the North East and 30% in the North West.

Confidence in raising a deposit also rose – only one in six respondents said they could not afford the deposit compared to a quarter the previous year.

Moneysprite director Ashley Brown said thanks to greater mortgage affordability and the impact of Funding for Lending on rates 2013 would be the year of the first-time buyer: “We have got five years’ worth of first-time buyers who have been saving up their deposits.”

But the need for second-time buyers in areas where prices remained depressed to have help with their deposits was still ‘very much the reality’, he said.

Middleton Finance founder Daniel Bailey said he had seen an increase in enquiries into mortgages at the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013: “The message is slowly getting out there to consumers that rates are good.

“If they can manage to get their deposit together repayments have possibly never been as low.”