▁requiring ▁that ▁a ▁contract ▁for ▁the ▁sale ▁of ▁land ▁must ▁be ▁in ▁writing . ▁This ▁pre cept ▁of ▁English ▁law ▁dates ▁back ▁to ▁the ▁Stat ute ▁of ▁Fra ud s ▁of ▁ 1 6 7 7 , ▁and ▁is ▁intended ▁to ▁prevent ▁d ish on esty . ▁ ▁It ▁can ▁take ▁as ▁long ▁as ▁ 3 ▁months ▁from ▁accept ance ▁of ▁the ▁offer ▁for ▁the ▁convey ancing ▁to ▁be ▁completed , ▁during ▁which ▁time ▁the ▁property ▁market ▁could ▁increase ▁in ▁value ▁sufficiently ▁that ▁the ▁s eller ▁bel ieves ▁they ▁could ▁get ▁a ▁better ▁price ▁by ▁pulling ▁out ▁and ▁listing ▁their ▁property ▁again , ▁gaz anging ▁the ▁bu yer . ▁ ▁Gaz ump ing ▁and ▁gaz und ering ▁▁ ▁Gaz ump ing ▁and ▁gaz und ering ▁are ▁related ▁phen omena , ▁describing ▁specific ▁cases ▁where ▁either ▁the ▁s eller ▁ra ises ▁the ▁price , ▁or ▁the ▁bu yer ▁low ers ▁their ▁offer . ▁In ▁contrast , ▁gaz anging ▁is ▁not ▁intended ▁to ▁improve ▁either ▁party ' s ▁position ▁to ▁achieve ▁a ▁better ▁deal . ▁Instead , ▁the ▁s eller ▁pull s ▁out ▁of ▁the ▁sale ▁entirely , ▁leaving ▁the ▁bu yer ▁with ▁no ▁rec ourse ▁what so ever . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁ ▁The ▁Guardian | G az ump ing ▁and ▁gaz und ering ▁Phil ▁Sp encer ▁advice ▁on ▁gaz anging , ▁commission ed ▁published ▁by ▁In - De ed ▁online ▁convey ancing ▁ ▁Category : H ous ing ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁Kingdom ▁Category : English ▁property ▁law <0x0A> </s> ▁The ▁Ut