In the poll of 1,000 homeowners almost half (48.5%) said they were looking for a detached property, with a similar number (52.4%) wanting three bedrooms.

The Yorkshire-based mutual reported that three-quarters (74.3%) of respondents said they felt three bedrooms was the minimum number they would require.

An extra bathroom was also sought after by homeowners, with 76.2% of those surveyed seeking more than one in their dream home.

The top five features in a dream property are:

Location (72.9%)

Property size (68.5%)

Garden and outside space (61.7%)

Property layout (56.2%)

Off-street parking (53.1%)

The five biggest turn-offs for a buyer are:

No garden (35.3%)

No driveway (14.0%)

Old heating system (10.9%)

Need for modernisation (10.0%)

Stairs in the living room (9.4%)

“We were founded 140 years ago by people who understood how, by working together, they could realise their property owning aspirations,” said Martin Richardson, Leeds Building Society’s business development general manager.

“This aim – which goes hand in hand with our other core purpose to offer savers a secure home for their money so they can plan for their futures – remains the same to this day.

“When home ownership appears to be a national obsession – and there’s a mind-boggling choice in types of properties to purchase – it’s perhaps surprising that our survey discovered so many people share the same view of what makes their dream home.”