The single most important household rule that should NEVER be broken (and it’s not forgetting to put the toilet seat down)

A survey of 2,000 Brits has revealed which rules are most important to follow when living in a household.

The research, commissioned by Smart Energy GB and conducted by Perspectus Global, found that the cost of living crisis and environmental factors were contributing to household concerns.

A whopping 97 percent of respondents believe it is important to have rules in the home, while another 98 percent agree that it is crucial to define the boundaries of what is acceptable.

In fact, financial pressures, such as rising energy prices, have led to 89 percent believing more energy-saving home rules have been introduced – with almost half (48 percent) implementing their own rules to be energy efficient.

Three-quarters (77 percent) believe house rules keep their home running smoothly, while two-thirds (66 percent) have introduced guidelines so everyone knows what is acceptable.

Overall, the survey found that always turning off the lights after leaving a room was the most important house rule, chosen by 63 percent of Brits.

This was followed by putting plastic, cardboard and glass in the recycling bin – chosen by 59 percent – ​​while never wasting food was chosen by more than half of those surveyed (56 percent).

Other important reasons for introducing house rules are to limit arguments, encourage people to take responsibility for running the household, set expectations and encourage people to think about costs.

One in four (26 percent) wanted to get people in their household thinking about the environment and the impact their decisions have on the world.

When it comes to whether you own or rent your home, house rules priorities can vary.

The data shows that homeowners want the lights off when leaving a room (69 percent), no food waste (58 percent), shoes off at the front door (53 percent), no screens at the dining table (41 percent). percent) and electrical appliances switched off at the plug (36 percent) to save money.

Meanwhile, renters want members of their household to always throw plastic and cardboard in the recycling (55 percent), not turn up the thermostat without asking (27 percent), boil only the water they need (23 percent) and turn on the dishwasher on when it is full (19 percent).

Victoria Bacon, Smart Energy GB, said: ‘It’s clear from the research that house rules have an important place in a modern home, especially as the cost of living continues and many people are conscious of taking steps to keep bills low .

‘There are several changes you can make at no extra cost, such as requesting a smart meter from your energy supplier. These are easy to do and effective at helping you take control of your energy use and keep your bills low.

Overall, the survey found that always turning off the lights after leaving a room was the most important house rule, chosen by 63 percent of Brits

‘If you rent and the energy bill is in your name, you can ask your energy supplier to install a smart meter, but it is advisable to tell your landlord before getting one. If your landlord is paying the bills, ask him or her to arrange the upgrade.”

Two-thirds (69 percent) of the 2,000 people surveyed in the UK say their parents had house rules when they were young, while one in four (24 percent) imposed the same rules at home.

Teenagers (28 percent) and children under 12 (27 percent) are the most likely to break the house rules, with one in ten (11 percent) parents admitting they are the ones breaking the rules in their home.

Nine in ten (90 percent) admit it irritates them when someone breaks the house rule, resulting in an average of five arguments a week.

Despite this, more than a third (38 percent) have broken a friend or family member’s house rule when visiting their home.