More couples are opting to purchase their first home together rather than as separate buyers, new research has revealed.

According to Charcol.co.uk, single first-time buyers (FTBs) usually outnumber those getting on the property ladder as a couple, but last year saw this balance shift.

In 2006, joint buyers constituted 45 per cent of FTBs, but in 2007 this increased to 50 per cent, suggesting more couples are making the commitment to purchase a home together.

Charcol.co.uk's technical manager Katie Tucker said this option can be "very sensible" - not only in terms of the house price but also utility bills which can be split.

"More cuddling up should save you on the heating," she added, before advising some couples to rent a property "to make sure you get on" before entering into a mortgage.

Meanwhile, recent figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors found prices for homes in London generally declining but those in Scotland staying constant, with a higher demand for commercial property.