A massive 17.5 million Brits (35 per cent) have visited an estate agent or online property website specifically to have a nose at the price details and interior photos of their friends’ and neigh-bours’ homes, according to new research.

The study from property website FindaProperty.com reveals a nation of nosey neighbours with one in 10 admitting to peeking through their neighbour’s window to see what the inside of their property looks like – and for many, it doesn’t stop there.

Three million confessed to snooping around inside their neighbour’s home when asked to check on it while the neighbour was away.

One and a half million people also confessed to keeping up with the Joneses – renovating or extending their home purely because their neighbours had decided to do so.

The research also revealed some green-eyed property tendencies; 11 per cent of the property owners surveyed said they would consider having their property re-valued if they discovered their neighbour’s home was worth more than theirs, and six per cent would look to extend or redecorate to help ensure their home was worth the same or more.

A sneaky three per cent even said they would attempt to secure a friendly invitation into their neighbour's home in order to find out why it was worth more than their own.

Samantha Baden, property analyst at FindaProperty. com, said: “This research confirms that we are a nation of nosey neighbours, but this is actually a good thing.

“Regardless of whether you’re looking to buy, sell or just browse for your dream home, gathering as much information about your local property market and home values is crucial.

“There are so many opportunities for home-owners to add value to their property, both inside and out, so there’s nothing wrong with drawing inspiration from neighbouring homes.

“While there’s no doubt that people in the UK have a love affair with all things property, the market can still be unpredictable, so it’s vital that those looking to buy or sell do their homework first.”