Research claims British homes are being devalued by over £70 billion as a result of untidy neighbourhoods.

According to LV= home insurance, more than 44 per cent of Britons live close to a dilapidated home which experts say typically knocks up to ten per cent off the value of neighbouring properties.

The figure equates to £15,675 off the average house price.

The most common problems which can affect a property’s value include overgrown gardens, peeling paintwork and furniture dumped outside homes.

Persistent noise pollution such as invasive music from a house next door – a reality for over 11 per cent of Brits – can also reduce the value of a typical property by an average of £18,000, today’s report shows.

One in three Britons have also had their homes damaged by an adjacent property.

Commenting on the study, John O’Roarke, managing director of LV= home insurance, said: “This research shows that the financial price of living nearby an untidy neighbour could have dire consequences, not only on your lifestyle but also on a home’s value and maintenance costs.

“People living near these properties need to ensure they have suitable home insurance in place so that if the worst does happen they can claim for any damage to their home.

“Our research also found that unkempt properties have caused seven per cent of homeowners to fall out with their neighbours, so ensuring good neighbourly relations is always sensible – that way unpleasant situations can often be prevented.”