House prices are experiencing their worst decline since records began, a report has revealed. But the situation in Kent is not as grave as the rest of the country, according to experts.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, (RICS), has shown 78.5 per cent more surveyors reported a fall than a rise in house prices in March - the lowest historical reading since 1978, when RICS's monthly survey started.

However in Kent, while prices have been falling, the rate of decline in new buyer enquiries and people putting their homes on the market has not been as high as the rest of the UK**.

Mike Hewson, who is a fellow representative of the RICS, from Ibbett Mosely Estate Agents in Tonbridge, said: "Don't believe all the pundits may say. We've had a very busy March with good instructions and, more importantly, better sales arranged than this time last year.

"Not all sellers are generally being sensible on price. Stock has not increased significantly and underlying the market there are plenty of people wanting to move.

"It's just uncertainty that is holding some of them back."

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Jeremy Leaf, from RICS said the decline in prices is directly linked to the credit crunch, which has hit demand.

He said: "However, until new supply increases dramatically a significant crash remains unlikely.

"The next six months will be a crucial period for homeowners but would-be buyers with larger deposits may see this market as an opportunity to acquire property in areas to which they could not previously aspire as recently as the end of 2007."

** Decline in new buyer enquiries in March:

Across UK: 49 per cent
South East region: 35 per cent

Decline in new vendor instructions in March:

Across UK: 16 per cent
South East region: four per cent