Almost 30% of housing chains fell though last year: survey

A recent survey from FindaProperty.com revealed that 28 per cent of chain property transactions in the UK fell through last year.

Close to half (46 per cent) of the transactions that went awry did so because the next buyer in the chain withdraw their offer, it was found.

One way to partially remove yourself from such heartbreak and frustration is to self build your own home, which could help to considerably reduce the number of links in the chain.

Michael O'Flynn, content editor for FindaProperty.com, said: "Property chains are more fragile than ever and buying and selling your home, or moving up the property ladder has become a very tricky business, especially when navigating the requirements of mortgage lenders for example."

Paul Collins, property editor of BuyAssociation, says that people need to be "very realistic" when trying to sell their property.