For many people across England, getting onto the property ladder can feel like a difficult balancing act. Now, the Government has announced a new initiative that could change the conversation for some first-time buyers.

A move often starts long before a property is officially listed. If selling within the next few months is becoming a realistic possibility, September is a good time to work out what needs to happen first.

The UK housing market remained subdued in August, with house prices edging up by 0.2% over the month and annual growth sitting at 1.6%, according to Nationwide's latest House Price Index.

Summer is traditionally a quieter period for the UK property market, with school holidays, family commitments and overseas travel often causing buyers and sellers to put their plans on hold. This year, however, prolonged hot weather appears to have added to the seasonal slowdown.