Eighty-seven per cent of people surveyed said it was a deal-breaker when looking for a home closely followed by structural decay and the smell of damp.

“Mould can cause major issues, particularly for residents with respiratory problems so it’s not surprising it’s at the top of the list of things buyers steer clear of,” said a Finder spokeswoman.

Further down the list included signs the current occupier is a smoker, dirty bathrooms, peeling paint and an out-of-date kitchen.