Its latest housing survey revealed that across the country 6% more surveyors saw a fall in new buyer enquiries during March, up from 1% more in February, as the outlook for the economy and potential interest rate rises warded off buyers.

However, RICS found there were strong regional variations, with the Midlands and the North of England recording considerable drops in demand. By comparison, Scotland, Wales and the South East all reported a steady increase.

In addition, supply levels appeared steady, with 4% more surveyors seeing a rise in instructions rather than a fall, while newly agreed sales were flat nationally.

However, this again did not reflect considerable difference around the UK, with positive transactions levels in the South West and Wales compared to particularly negative readings in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside.

Meanwhile, 23% more RICS surveyors reported a fall in house prices rather than a rise, down from 26% more seeing a drop in February. The majority of surveyors saw a fall of between 0% and 2%. London was the only area of the country to record a rise in prices.

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Surveyors gave a downbeat forecast for prices for the tenth month in a row, with 24% more predicting prices will slide in the next three months rather than rise, slightly less than 28% predicting a fall in February.

Nevertheless, 5% more surveyors believe sales will increase over the next three months rather than decrease.

Ian Perry, spokesperson for RICS, said: “The rather negative outlook for property prices across the UK seems to better reflect the general economy than the micro climate of London.

“The low level of buyer interest in many parts of the UK continues to impact on the market, resulting in some downward pressure on prices. With the prospect of forthcoming interest rate rises and continued shortage of mortgage funding, it seems that overall recovery for the national housing market is still some way off.”