Never mind the neighbours, say home buyers, is the broadband good?

♦ Good broadband is now more important than having friendly neighbours when buying a home.

When asked the “must haves” when searching for a property, home buyers ranked broadband as the fifth most important aspect, according to a study by Gocompare, the price comparison website.

It is the first time internet connection has featured in the top five most important considerations, it said.

Traditional selling points such as a driveway, conservatory and garage, now rank lower than broadband sufficient to stream movies, and being close to shops and amenities.

Top of the list this year are central heating, double glazing, secure doors and windows, and a garden.

Close behind are plentiful electrical sockets to enable phone charging and having a TV in every room.

Moving near a good school fails to make the list, as does open-plan living or period features. The survey questioned 2,000 people.

Ben Wilson, of Gocompare, said: “Connectivity and energy efficiency are massive factors, while the number of electrical sockets is now more important than access to local amenities. Likewise, a broadband signal fast enough for streaming, and a reliable mobile phone signal are deemed essential today and sellers need to be wise to these priorities.”