A boom in Britain’s housing market has started to fade, dampened by new COVID-19 lockdowns and the coming expiry of a temporary tax cut for buyers, a survey showed on Thursday. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ monthly gauge of new buyer enquiries fell in December to a seven-month low of +15% from +26% in November. The survey, based on the findings of chartered surveyors, again showed widespread reports of rising house prices: the headline house price balance fell only slightly to +65 in December - not far off a 21-year record of +67 in October. Only London showed weak house price growth, RICS said. ... (full story)