UK property total returns hit their highest monthly level since November 2011 in April, at 0.5%, according to monthly figures from IPD.

Although the positive return was mainly owing to income returns of 0.6%, the decline in capital values, which has acted as a drag on performance, slowed to 0.04%.

Offices gave the highest returns in April, of 0.6% for offices, while retail returned 0.4% and industrial 0.6%.

This month's results showed signs of improvement in the regions, where 30% of assets surveyed displayed flat or positive capital growth and a higher income return than London.

Phil Tily, managing director for the UK and Ireland, IPD, said: "There are positive signs emerging in the UK property market, which sit alongside more optimistic reports about the UK economy, which according to the CBI is forecast to grow by 1% in 2013.

"In the first quarter, we saw a growing percentage of assets outside of London delivering flat or positive capital growth, and that trend has continued in April - and hopefully the recent economic news will lead to further confidence and selective recovery in the regions."