Housebuyers unsatisfied with new homes

Nearly a third (29 per cent) of homebuyers moving into a new home claim to be unsatisfied with the property once they have settled in, new research suggests.

The same proportion find the process of buying a house difficult and nearly half (42 per cent) of the over 55 population would rather stay renting than purchase a home, data from an AA survey shows.

Janet Pell of the AA said: "For most people, buying a home will be the most important purchase they make in their lifetime, so it’s really important to get it right and make sure you have no regrets once the contract is signed."

Other findings of the study reveal that 17 per cent of those who regret moving into a house do so because of obnoxious or noisy neighbours.

A survey by Warners property solicitors suggested that the number of single buyers entering the housing market is growing.