Fewer homes are coming to the market in 2021 as resurging coronavirus cases make homeowners play safe.

The new stock of homes coming on to the market in the first two weeks of 2021 has fallen by 12% compared with the same period in January 2020, according to Zoopla.

“Record Covid cases and calls to uphold social distancing appear to have made some would-be home sellers reluctant to list their property for sale at present,” Zoopla said, adding that the strength of last year’s market may also have “soaked up” the supply of homes available for sale.