A new survey has revealed the most common gripes about estate agents among customers.

Norwich Union has published a new study, which shows that a lack of communication is one of the most common complaints.

Uncertainty about valuations and the problems associated with being tied to one agent were also highlighted as issues for customers.

A total of 46 per cent of respondents said that they were concerned that being tied to one agent would lead to limited marketing.

In addition, 44 per cent expressed concern that an agent''s valuation may not be fair and might be biased towards speeding up a sale.

"People are particularly concerned about the prospect of using an estate agent to help sell their property, either because they are unsure about who to use, uncertain of their selling capabilities or confused about what''s included in the estate agency package," said Anthony Rafferty, Norwich Union spokesman.