End of the Chain? A record three-quarters of buyers are now chain-free

The number of chain-free property listings has jumped from one in six at this time last year to more than one in five now.

"Buyer demand remains high but there are now signs that market is softening," says Zoopla's research chief, as more vendors cut asking prices and deals take longer to materialise.

“A lack of homes for sale rather than a lack of desire from buyers is what is dictating the pace of the market,” says Rightmove, as the UK’s average asking price rises 2.1% in a month.