The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) is forecasting a decrease in residential property prices across the UK in 2015 - it believes that prices will go down by 0.6 percent. If this is correct it will be a radical departure from the 8.8 percent growth recorded in 2014.

The researchers say that London will see the sharpest decline - with prices falling by 3.3 percent. House prices rose by 16.8 percent in the British capital during the last 12 months.

CEBR predict that a number of factors will force the market to cool-down in 2015. Rapidly rising prices in London are expected to provoke international investors to look at other markets that will offer better value.

The report also says that the world economy will remain slow, particularly Russia, and this will result in less money flowing into the UK market.

Uncertainty over interest rate rises from the Bank of England is also expected to result in potential buyers postponing purchases.