Around 7.2million Britons binge-browse online property portals at least once every week, even though they have no intention of buying or selling a property, findings show.

Roughly 60 per cent, or more than 30million people, said they cannot resist searching for homes on online property websites such as Rightmove and Zoopla for no good reason, according to data from Direct Line Home Insurance. 

And of these, 22 per cent say they do this at least once a week.  

The motivations for keeping such a close eye on property websites ranged from outright nosiness to aspirational daydreaming, according to the findings.  

For many, it is a form of escapism, with 37 per cent admitting to scrolling through listings and fantasising about their dream home.

Thirty-six per cent said they regularly scrolled through online property listings in their dream location, while 27 per cent said they focused on looking at luxury homes. 

Thirty-five per cent of people surveyed admitted to tracking down the homes of neighbours online, with many Britons unable to resist snooping on people living next door or close by.  

Other popular reasons for browsing properties online included people revisiting homes they previously lived in, peeking at family members’ homes or even friends’ properties. 

Seven per cent cent of 2,000 people surveyed admitted they viewed online property browsing as a source of entertainment, and enjoyed looking at homes designed in 'bad taste'.   

When it comes to the main reasons for browsing properties online, two in five said they did so to keep tabs on the local property market. A third said they were scoping out potential areas to live in the future. 

Meanwhile, 26 per cent said they browsed properties online in a bid to estimate the value of their own home. Twenty-eight per cent said they used property websites to check the price of someone else's property. 

For others, people's homes appear to be a potential source of inspiration. Around 19 per cent of people said they looked at online property websites to get interior design ideas, with 12 per cent browsing for extension and property layout ideas. 

With so many people now browsing properties online, those who are selling their homes might reasonably be worried about security. 

Dan Simson, head of Direct Line Home Insurance, told This is Money: 'Practicality aside, curiosity and daydreaming keep millions glued to property sites. 

'Today, these platforms have evolved into a go-to source of information and inspiration, seemingly turning casual browsing into a national pastime. 

'But there’s a flip side: listing your home online means showcasing your belongings to countless strangers. 

'Before posting photos or video tours online, ensure that you remove any expensive items and personal details, and refrain from displaying your full address. 

'The last thing you want to do is advertise your home to thieves or fraudsters.'

Online property portal Rightmove saw a record number of home hunters browsing the site on 26 December.  

A £2.5million house near Croydon and a £190,000 home on the outskirts of Huddersfield were among Rightmove's most viewed homes this Boxing Day.

Browsers also had their heads turned by an 'exclusive woodland enclave' in Scotland, and a Devon home with its own duck pond and island.

While Christmas Day was the quietest day for Rightmove website traffic, there was a 93 per cent increase on 26 December.

This was a largest bounce in visits to Rightmove than last year, when the increase was 87 per cent.