UK homeowners are fourth happiest with living situation in Europe, survey claims

Britain falls behind Netherlands and Germany in home happiness poll

The report by the Happiness Research Institute found that homes account for 15 per cent of total happiness (Getty Images)

The UK is only the fourth happiest place in Europe when it comes to people's satisfaction with their homes, according to a study.

Poor natural light, bad air quality and a lack of space have been revealed as some of the main reasons British people are not satisfied with their living situation.

The GoodHome Report, the largest study of its kind ever conducted, surveyed 13,489 people across Europe, asking them a series of questions about happiness and the home.

The results showed that in a poll of 10 European countries, the UK lagged behind the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark in terms of “home happiness”.

Despite some assuming location is the most important feature of a home, the statistics revealed that people viewed having access to green space as more important than where they live.

The report was created with independent think tank The Happiness Research Institute, who found it “made no significant difference to happiness” whether people lived in the city or countryside.

Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, said: “Our research shows that often we look for happiness in the wrong places.

“Sometimes what we think makes us happy and what really makes us happy are not the same - this report builds on the belief that our homes shape our lives.

“They are where we find comfort and safety, where we let our guard down and connect with our loved ones.”

He added: “In a world demanding more and more of our attention, our homes are where we can retreat and seek refuge.”

Scoring an average of 7.69 out of 10, the Dutch were top of the list when it came to rating how happy they were with their homes.

They were also the most likely to describe their home as “spacious”, with the report stating: “A feeling of spaciousness is three times more important than actual size.”

Out of the ten European countries surveyed, the Russians, with an average score of 6.57, came bottom, while British people came fourth, with an average score of 7.4.

The report found homes account for 15 per cent of total happiness – with health and fitness scoring 14 per cent, and earnings accounting for just six per cent.

However, one in four homeowners in the UK said they were not happy with their home.

And while many people aspire to climb the housing ladder, the report showed that the difference between owning or renting had little impact on happiness.

Véronique Laury, CEO of B&Q owner Kingfisher, said: “I’m convinced that our homes are one of the keys to happiness.

“That’s why I’ve spent my life working in the home improvement industry and 16 years in this business.

“It’s why at Kingfisher, our purpose is to make home improvement accessible for everyone - because we believe everybody should be able to have a home they can feel good about.”

SWNS