Property sales in the UK picked up over the summer, according to figures from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Sales rose from 80,000 in August to 82,000 in September.

More significantly, sales in the third quarter of the year, covering July to September, were 11% higher than in the previous three months.

The rise in sales has also led to an increase in the number of complaints to the Property Ombudsman, which have risen by 17% in the past quarter.

The Ombudsman exists to resolve disputes between estate agents and their customers.

Currently, a majority of the Ombudsman's workload involves complaints about lettings.

In July, August and September, the Ombudsman, Christopher Hamer, received 1,679 enquiries about lettings (up 16% over the previous quarter) and 966 about sales (down 10%).

Only a minority of enquiries become formal complaints which are then investigated.

But in the third quarter there were 127 new cases opened about lettings (up 9% on the previous quarter) and 122 about sales (up 17%).

"The statistics... show the continuing trend of increasing lettings disputes referred to my office," said Mr Hamer.

"I have noted, however, a small surge in sales disputes and whilst there has been much talk about the market beginning to pick up, if that is true it will be some months yet before that has an effect on my workload."

Source: BBC