A survey by Findaproperty.com has found nearly a third of parents long for more space, with this figure rising to 40% for those aged under 34. Apparently one in four children share a bedroom with a sibling, and most parents are unable to afford to rent or buy the kind of property they'd really like in the area they want to live in. This is hardly surprising as the average cost of a three-bedroom home is still around £193,000, and most people are forced to compromise.

Another report by investment firm LV found many young parents with two or three children are still living in the same home they purchased as a young couple, and not surprisingly things are somewhat squashed in an average two-bedroom home. Apparently a correctly sized home is one where parents have their own bedroom, and children under the age of 10 either share a room all have their own room, whilst same-sex children share between the ages of 10 and 20. Children aged 21 who are still living at home obviously need their own room.

These surveys come as no surprise as British homes are amongst the smallest in the world, especially those which have been constructed since 2003 has apparently we are all shrinking. Whereas an average sized home in the US is around 2300 ft.², the UK averages just 818 ft.² At least a smaller home costs less to heat and is a lot cosier.