According to a new survey 52 per cent of UK adults are considering a house move or getting on the property ladder, but most think that they will be unlikely to fulfil their home dreams in the next 12 months.

The costs associated with buying and moving home, together with high house prices, are cited as the main barriers to moving, leaving 21 per cent of those surveyed fearing that they will never afford a house move or to buy a property.

The survey, commissioned by Gocompare.com Home Insurance, found on average those considering a house move or thinking about buying their first property have been mulling over their plans for 3.6 years.

The biggest obstacles to the nation’s housing hopes are: the cost of buying/moving (16 per cent); high house prices in the area they want to buy (16 per cent); the cost of running a house (15 per cent); raising a deposit (14 per cent); uncertainty about job security or income (10 per cent) and a lack of availability of the type of house they would like to buy (nine per cent).

Ben Wilson from Gocompare.com Home Insurance, said: “Low interest rates and improved confidence in the economy are creating potentially ideal conditions for the housing market.

“However, the high costs associated with buying and moving home, together with the requirement to put down a bigger deposit, are preventing many people from realising their property dreams.”