A YORK estate agent has cast doubt on a national survey that claims more than half of York home owners encounter a "chain of house-moving misery".

Research by property search company ONESEARCH Direct claims 60 per cent of homeowners experience difficulties with their move in the city, with 15 per cent of people taking more than six months to move. But Kevin Hollinrake, director of Hunters the Estate Agents, said he believed the national average for house moves is between ten and 12 weeks.

Mr Hollinrake said: "I don't think York's worse than anywhere else, or that it's a local problem, but a national problem. There are too many things that can go wrong."

The survey also claims the local search process, generally undertaken by councils, could slow the move down.

But Mr Hollinrake said that more private companies were now becoming involved in the process.

He added: "Many building societies now accept private companies undertaking the local search work, which can be completed in a matter of days."

Updated: 14:11 Monday, June 09, 2003