When moving into a new home over two fifths (42%) of those surveyed by Halifax Estate Agents have said that it was quite important to them that that they build relationships with new neighbours.

This was particularly fundamental to those aged between 18 to 24 years of age (50%) and those from the South West (54%) and the North (53%).

In contrast, those in Scotland (10%) would prefer it if they did not have any contact with their neighbours at all.

Almost two fifths (19%) of respondents considered neighbourly relationships not to be very important to them, but they were happy to chat to their neighbours over the garden fence occasionally. This sentiment was strongest amongst those from East Anglia (27%) and those aged between 18 and 24 (29%).

In addition, over one third of married, or living as married couples (35%), considered fostering good relationships with their neighbours to be very important to them, as they had a desire to live in a close knit community. This was a feeling shared with those over the age of 65 (41%) and those from Wales (45%).

15% of the respondents said that they were able to get the measure of their new neighbours immediately. This feeling was strongest amongst those aged over 65 (21%).

Over one third (34%) of those asked, said it would take at least a month before they would be truly able to make their minds up about their new neighbours. Those from the East Midlands (43%) and Wales (43%) also took a month to weigh up new neighbours

A quarter (24%) of those surveyed said that they could usually make up their mind within a week

Of those surveyed almost half (44%) had received house warming gifts from their new neighbours. When choosing gifts, most of us tend to play it safe and stick to a greeting card (28%), which is closely followed by the traditional offering of wine or plants and flowers (18% respectively).

Those from the East Midlands are the most popular when giving alcohol as a gift, with 24% choosing this gift. The North is once again the least generous, with just under half (49%) saying that they had not received a gift at all.

However, anybody receiving anything at all from new neighbours should count themselves honoured as a huge 42% of those surveyed have never received anything.

It appears that neither age, nor gender are boundaries when it comes to being invited round for drinks with new neighbours.

Almost two thirds (64%) said that they were not invited round in the first week, with three quarters (73%) of 25 to 34 year olds seemingly the least popular.

One third (34%) of new home owners were invited round for drinks within the first week of moving. However, people in Wales are more likely to receive an invitation for drinks (46%), while the majority of people in the North (76%) and in Scotland (74%) and the North West (74%) said that they had not received an invitation.

Gordon Edwards, managing director, Halifax Estate Agents, comments: “Good neighbourly relationships help to maintain a sense of community spirit in towns and villages across the UK. They can also be invaluable for helping each other out, for instance having someone to keep an eye on the house or feed the cat whilst you’re away.”