First-time buyers must return to the notion of saving before they commit to put a deposit on a house, it has been suggested.

Catherine Hearnden, director of MyMortgageDirect, warned that often buyers had not thought seriously about funding the deposit.

Ms Hearnden said that mortgage lending was hindered by the cold weather which brought city centres to a standstill.

Speaking about encouraging lending in the mortgage market she proposed a new use for stamp duty, saying: "I think it should work like income tax, where it is staggered and increases relatively."

The number of people who had their application for a mortgage confirmed at a high street bank fell from 46,000 to 35,000 in January, according to the British Bankers' Association (BBA).

David Dooks, BBA statistics director, also said the weather was to blame for the lack of activity in the market and that demand for consumer credit was weaker in December.

People interested in moving house may wish to make the process easier by using self storage facilities.

Written by Emily Sanders