A detached property with three bedrooms is the type of residence that the majority of home owners would aspire to live in, a survey has found.

An Englishman's home may be his castle, but the research for Leeds Building Society among 1,000 home owners suggested that many have relatively modest ambitions for their dream property.

Almost half of those surveyed (48.5%) desired a detached property, with a similar proportion (52.4%) wanting three bedrooms.

Two bathrooms was also the most popular preference, chosen by 56.2% of those surveyed.

Martin Richardson, Leeds Building Society's general manager, business development, said: "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."

Here are the top five features that home owners would consider the most important when looking for their dream property, according to the research:

1. Location

2. Property size

3. Garden and outside space

4. Property layout

5. Off-street parking

The five features that buyers were most prepared to compromise on were:

1. Good interior decoration

2. Period features

3. New kitchen and bathroom

3. Wood burner or fireplace

5. Property layout

The five biggest turn-offs for a home buyer were:

1. No garden

2. No driveway

3. Old heating system

4. Need for modernisation

5. Stairs in the living room