That old Which? estate agency fee figure has reared its head yet again after Lloyds Bank used it to calculate the soaring cost of moving for home buyers.

Researchers seem to love quoting Which? research from 2011 putting average agency fees at 1.8% plus VAT, and despite the consumer watchdog even revising the figure down earlier this year, the six-year-old number has been used again.

Using the average house price for home movers in the second quarter of each year, Lloyds Bank claims the average cost of moving home in the UK has increased by £628 over the past year to £11,624.

More than half of the increase in average moving costs in 2017 has been due to Stamp Duty costs, which have risen by 16% to £2,897.

Estate agency fees have risen by 3% to £5,571 and legal costs are up by 3% to an average of £1,290, according to the research.

The use of six-year-old data comes despite there being plenty of more up to date sources. Since May, Which?’s latest guides have shown the average fee at 1.3% plus VAT, while EYE reported earlier this week that fees have dropped to 1% excluding VAT.

Average estate agent’s fee sinks to 1% – how low can it go?

EYE has asked for clarification on why the old research on fees was used but is yet to receive a reply.