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Revealed: street with London's nosiest neighbours
Ellen Widdup and Miranda Bryant10 Sep 2009
Residents of a street in Barnet have been branded London's worst offenders for keeping a beady eye on the value of their neighbours' homes.
People living in Monkville Avenue were named the nosiest in the capital in a poll of people logging on to a website dedicated to the comparison of house prices.
But rather than defend themselves against the accusations, residents admitted they could not get enough of knowing how the ever-changing property market was affecting the cost of homes in the street, where a three-bedroom house costs £600,000.
The survey was compiled among users of website Zoopla, which helps people search for house prices by postcode.
It was also revealed that Londoners used the site more than any other people, with Richmond the nosiest borough.
Alex Chesterman, Zoopla's chief executive, said users had to enter their address before searching other postcodes - making it easy to spot who was using the site to snoop.
"Homeowners in London have always been gripped by how much their own home is worth, but have become increasingly obsessed with their neighbours' house values too," he said.
Of the 3,732 people polled, 42 per cent admitted looking up the value of their neighbour's property on the website.
Others admitted snooping on the values of homes owned by colleagues and family.
"Homeowners are either looking for reassurance that their own property's value hasn't fallen by as much or taking some comfort in the knowledge that they are not alone," said Mr Chesterman.
Monkville Avenue residents said they were always keen to see what was happening on the local property ladder.
Businessman Dav Shah, 35, has just moved into a £695,000 three- bedroom property.
He said it did not surprise him that residents were curious about house prices.
"It's a very property orientated area. A lot of people's incomes here are from the property industry and there are a lot of good schools here."
Manju Malhotra, 35, lives with her husband Deepak and four-year-old daughter Sofia.
She said: "We use Zoopla, it's quite good.
"It gives you an estimate of what your house is worth and tells you if the price is reasonable."
Lindsay Cuthill, director of Savills estate agency, said: "There's a London obsession with house prices.
"I'd imagine it's true of a lot of streets because we have to pay so much for property and slave to pay our mortgages."
'I know how much other houses are worth'
Sue Vasner, 65, retired
Moved into her house with husband Martin and two children 33 years ago.
"The street has gone from being an ageing neighbourhood to being a young one. It has gone through a complete sea change. We are nosy as we subscribe to that website. At one point I was getting emails every day."
Andy McIntosh, 39, project manager
Lived in the street for eight years with wife Charlotte and has two children, Jessica, five, and Jake, three.
"The news doesn't surprise me, it's a small road. I've been on Zoopla before and I know how much other people's houses are worth. People caring about house prices is just pure nosiness."
June Hanan, 45, mother of three
Lived in her house for five years with husband Michael and children, Leon, seven, Nathan, 12, and Dalia, 14.
"I look at property prices all the time because everyone knows someone who might want to buy your house. It's a friendly neighbourhood but I hear about house prices by word of mouth."
Reader views (1)
This sort of behavior and obsession is sooooo boring....
- Trunk, US, 11/09/2009 02:45
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