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A second survey of members of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) revealed 98 per cent of estate agents now believe consumer confidence has been further damaged by the hold-up.

This is up from the previous survey, when 92 per cent said the indecision had increased consumers concerns.

The NAEA said the wait was causing property sales to fall through, with 56 per cent of agents claiming to have lost at least one sale since the first talk of a Stamp Duty holiday was made.

Of those, 32 per cent said they had lost between two and three sales.

Meanwhile, a further 92 per cent of estate agents said sellers, purchasers and applicants were still asking if they should hold off making a decision pending further information.

In the last survey, only 26 per cent thought sales had fallen through as a result of the comments.

Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the NAEA, said: "This just isn't good enough. The housing market is in a very serious position and we need serious action.

"The figures show that it is agents and consumers that are bearing the brunt of this indecision and whilst we need a planned and managed response from the government we also need it quickly.

"We have continually called on the government to hold a round table discussion to find real solutions to Stamp Duty, the liquidity issue, first-time buyers and repossessions. However, disappointingly we have had no feedback.

"There is no point in trying to target one area in the hope of a ‘quick fix'. We need a coherent package of measures that will ease problems throughout the housing market."