Nearly half of British homeowners have engaged in property-related activities without the knowledge of other adults in their household, according to new research published by property portal Zoopla.
The study found that 44% of homeowners have secretly browsed homes for sale, checked their current property's value, or performed similar actions without discussing them with co-residents. This covert behaviour includes 38% who did so while watching television with those they were keeping it from.
For those planning a purchase within the next one to three years, the proportion rises significantly, with 72% in this group having taken at least one property-related action without informing household members. Of these, 61% have browsed listings and 36% have researched alternative locations.
Geographic variations were noted, with London showing the highest rate at 62% of residents conducting private property research. The West Midlands followed at 54%, and the North West at 53%.
Richard Donnell, Executive Director at Zoopla, commented that buyers today have more factors to consider, including higher mortgage rates limiting buying power and more homes available for sale. He emphasised the importance for homeowners of understanding affordability, budget constraints across different areas, and current property values.