There were 106,780 transactions last month, according to data from HRMC.
Cost-of-living crisis has not deterred home-buyers, says Rightmove
Property search website Rightmove said asking prices for property put on sale between mid-April and mid-May rose by 2.1% after a 1.6% rise the month before. The report echoed other gauges that show Britain's housing market retained much of its momentum in the first half of 2022, despite the phasing out of temporary tax breaks on property purchases in the second half of 2021. But with household budgets being squeezed by high inflation and tax rises, Rightmove had doubts about whether the housing market can keep up its recent strength - even though there is scant sign of a slowdown in price growth now.