SECURITY, a garden and good neighbours are the top priorities for British house buyers, according to new research.

The survey carried out by Virgin Money reveals that household safety is the top priority, cited by 83 per cent of respondents. Next on the list for 68 per cent of buyers was good neighbours and 62 per cent of those that took part wanted green space. Just 36 per cent cited wanting to be near to a good school as their main reason for buying a home.

Meanwhile buyers shunned supposed trends such as the so-called Waitrose effect, wanting to live next to a particular supermarket, or the Starbucks effect, wanting to live next to a cafe – with just ten per cent admitting to the latter.

Peter Rogerson, director of mortgages at Virgin Money, said: “We set out to understand what the home owners of today really value when buying a home. What we found is that people look beyond the fads we hear so much about and are actually motivated by contented, convenient and comfortable living the green spaces around them and a strong neighbourhood.”

The survey also looked at what features buyers want inside their homes. The survey found that 79 per cent want a combined kitchen and dining area, while for 62 per cent a high-speed internet connection is important.