House sales jumped by nearly a fifth in December, compared with the same month a year earlier, new figures show, as estate agents reported signs of home buyers in some locations rushing to beat a stamp duty deadline.
Across the UK, 96,330 sales took place in December 2024, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) estimated, which was 19 per cent higher than in December 2023 and three per cent higher than in November 2024.
