Vendors and agents could be breaching Consumer Protection Regulations after research suggests home owners are reluctant to report crimes in their area through fear of the effect on their house price.

A poll by Direct Line Home Insurance found that almost one in ten home owners has been a victim of, or witnessed, a crime, but not reported it to the police for fear it would show up on an online police crime map and devalue their property or make it more difficult to let.

Both the NAEA and the Property Ombudsman have warned against such practice.

The Direct Line study also reveals that 9% would consider not reporting a crime, or would discourage their neighbour from reporting one, because it would show up on an online crime map. This would work out as 4.5m people based on the UK adult population.

Half of respondents said they would check crime statistics in a neighbourhood they were looking to move to, before committing to buying or renting a property, while 47% would refuse to live in a high crime neighbourhood.

Rebecca Clapham, head of household products at Direct Line, said: “We are a nation obsessed with property and this has even filtered through to how we report crime with some home owners concerned about doing anything that could devalue their home.

“It’s frightening that people are turning a blind eye to crime with some going unreported as a result. People need to remember that the purpose of a crime map is to analyse crime to help law enforcement and to evaluate crime prevention strategies, not to devalue a property.

“Our homes contain some of our most prized possessions and so it’s important to make sure they are properly protected.

“It’s concerning that burglary is one of the top three unreported crimes, especially as you need a crime reference number during the claims process when the loss or damage is as a result of a crime. If you haven’t reported the crime you won’t be able to have this and you may find your claim is rejected.”

Responding to the survey, Mark Hayward, managing director of the National Association of Estate Agents, said: “All buyers are protected by the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations which protect against misleading selling practices.

“If an agent believes that a crime which involved the property would impact a prospective buyer’s decision to purchase, the agent must let the buyer know.

“For example, if a property has been repeatedly burgled, then we believe this should be mentioned to a buyer. However, if it was only a one-off occurrence, the agent should consider the severity of the crime and make a decision.

“In all cases, we would encourage anyone considering buying a home to go online to understand the crime statistics in the area they’re looking to move to.

“By using a local reputable NAEA estate agent when buying or selling a home, consumers can ensure the right code of conduct is adhered to and they receive the correct information to help buy or sell a home appropriately.”

Property Ombudsman Katrine Sporle expressed astonishment at the findings and said: “People worried about their property value surely report crime more than most in a bid to prevent it.

“If it is the case that home owners are happy to see their local neighbourhood deteriorate around them and not report crime through fear that the value of their property will drop, then we are living in very sad times indeed.”