The Ombudsman for Estate Agents, Christopher Hamer, received 8,472 contacts from home buyers or sellers concerned about estate agents in 2006.

Almost 600 were referred for formal review and 297 were upheld in the consumers' favour. The number of investigations launched was 18% higher than in 2005.

However, Mr Hamer said the number of estate agents signed up for the ombudsman scheme was greater than the rise in complaint numbers.