Say no to gnomes? New study says the cute lawn ornaments could 'knock £12,000 off price of neighbour's home'
Collecting garden gnomes has become a peculiarly popular British hobby and always provides a treat for passersby.
But 'a lawn' filled with the quirky statues might not be as much fun for neighbours – as it can knock £12,000 off the value of their homes.
Researchers at Churchill Home Insurance quizzed 500 estate agents across the country to find out the biggest problems caused by neighbouring properties when selling a house.
They found that messy front gardens filled with junk or rubbish and decrepit sheds were the number one and number two issues, each knocking £13,000 off the asking price of a property.
Excessive use of garden gnomes, statues and ornaments slotted in at third place, causing buyers to lower their bids by £12,000.
The study found the average house price in the UK now is £268,000, but that having neighbours who 'lower the tone' could see up to £43,000 wiped off the selling price.
There are believed to be around six million garden gnomes across the UK, up from five million in 2020.
In Germany, the home of the gnome – where they were invented in the early 19th century and are known as Gartenzwerge (garden dwarfs) – there are between 25 and 30 million gnomes.
The eccentric decorations were introduced to Britain in 1847 by renowned gardener Sir Charles Edmund Isham, although popularity dipped severely during the two World Wars.
The British love affair with gnomes peaked in the 70s, after manufacturers came up with 'naughty gnomes' including ones dressed as Smurfs, in football strips and daft costumes.
In the past five years, however, sales of garden gnomes have soared by around 20 per cent.
Alison Taylor, 45, of Tring, Hertfordshire, said she would be put off buying a home next to someone who didn't keep their garden tidy – or had an 'army of gnomes'.
She said: 'Obviously a messy garden is an indication of what your new neighbours could be like.
'If you see cars with flat tyres in the driveway and a sofa in the front garden, you're probably not going to put an offer in - or if you do, you'll put in a lower bid.
'Garden gnomes and ornaments are fine, within reason, but if you're talking 20-odd gnomes then it would definitely put me off, but that's because I find them creepy - I'm sure other people might love them.'
A spokesman for Churchill said this week: 'We asked 500 estate agents to find out how much unattractive or poorly maintained neighbouring properties can reduce the selling price of a home by.
'We found that it can reduce the price of the average home by £43,000.
'Things like rubbish in the neighbouring front garden, broken windows or excessive garden gnomes or statues are common buyer turn offs and costing sellers thousands in property prices.'
The study found that 97 per cent of estate agents had told clients to 'have words' with their neighbours before putting the house on the market in a bid to get them to 'tidy up'.
Sarah Khan, Head of Churchill Home Insurance, said: 'Much like family, you cannot choose your neighbours, or who moves in next door.
'Sometimes you get lucky with neighbours and sometimes less so.
'Unfortunately, no matter how well presented your house is, a messy or poorly maintained neighbouring property can have a significant, detrimental impact on your sale price.
'If you find yourself in this situation and it is a cause for concern, it is worth trying to have a chat with your neighbour to see what can be done about it.
'Even a quick tidy up can make a huge difference, it does not have to be expensive but could significantly improve the curb appeal and the price you achieve for your home.'
Top neighbourhood no-nos
Researchers found the top neighbourhood no-nos, and how much they could cost someone selling a house next-door;
1 - Rubbish and junk in front garden/drive - £13,000
2 - Ramshackle sheds/outbuildings in back garden - £13,000
3 - Excessive use of gnomes, statues, garden ornaments - £12,000
4 - Broken or boarded-up windows - £11,600
5 - Bad DIY jobs - £11,180
6 - Shoddy extensions - £11,180
7 - Broken down cars in front drive - £11,100
8 - Overgrown garden/weeds - £11,000
9 - Pebble dash/bad decor - £10,750
10 - Overflowing gutters - £10,320
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