People would rather buy a house which has been the scene of a murder than one that is at risk of subsiding, flooding or in a high crime area, according to a survey by MoneySavingExpert.com.
The Office of Fair Trading says firms offering "quick house sales" should make sure their business practices are up to scratch after an investigation found some customers end up handing over their home for less than half its market value.
The Government insists only creditworthy borrowers will be able to buy homes with its Help to Buy scheme, as it revealed more details about its housing stimulus programme.
Rents across England and Wales stalled in June for the first time in at least six years as more people decided to buy their own homes, a lettings network says.