Gazanging, where vendors decide not to sell at the last minute, could become a bigger problem in the future, according to agents.

A survey by conveyancing website In-Deed found one in four owners pulled out of a sale because they couldn’t find anywhere they wanted to move to.

Buyers who are gazanged can end up out of pocket, after paying surveyors’ and solicitors’ fees.

Gavin West, of Summertown-based Kemp & Kemp, said: “It is something that’s rare and normally there are mitigating circumstances to do with family or changes in employment but the incidence of it is increasing.

“If we find a buyer for a client’s property but the client finds it incredibly difficult to find something for themselves, they sit down in the cold light of day and think ‘Do I want to move my children, my furniture and possessions into rented accommodation?’.”

Ellie Henri, of Breckon & Breckon, said: “It’s going to become more prevalent, especially if the economy gets worse.

“There is a lot of hesitation out there and not a lot of new stock coming to the market.

“We hear people saying they can’t see anything they want to move to.”

But Giles Lawton, of Savills, added: “The reality is that there is quite a lot of stock on the market.

“If our clients can’t find a house but still want to move, they are not worried about renting because their judgement is that prices are not going to go up.”