Couples from London take longer to move in together than anywhere else in the UK, with three in five Londoners (61%) saying they feel nervous before living with their partner compared to less than half (47%) of couples across the UK.

A survey of 1,000 people by John Charcol, an independent mortgage adviser, found that UK couples are together for 4.5 years before buying a home, whereas London couples wait an additional 4 months. Most UK couples wait 2 years and 2 months before living together and cohabit for 2 years and 3 months before buying a home.

Please see the accompanying table for the average amount of time couples across the UK are together before buying a home.

One-in-five Londoners wait at least five years to take their relationship to the next level by moving in with their other half, whereas 12% of UK couples wait as little as six months to take the plunge.

London couples say they are more nervous to move in with their partners than anywhere else in the UK, whereas couples from East Anglia and the East Midlands are most excited to live together.