Sixteen - the average number of homes you'll have in a lifetime

Their total property haul of 16 homes includes the houses of their childhood, university lodgings, rented flat shares, first time buys, family homes and finally downsizing for retirement.

This is almost twice as many homes as outlined in a similar social trends survey in 1990, showing just how often modern householders are willing to move if they can.

In contrast, today's average 65-year-old has only lived in five homes during his or her lifetime said the study, based on a survey of 2,000 adults of all ages, released yesterday by the Ideal Home Show.

Experts said the trend was mostly down to changing social trends including moving away from home earlier, increased cohabiting before marriage, rising divorce rates and fragmentation of the family unit.

Neil Barber, of Edinburgh-based removal firm Intransit, said: "Social mores have changed. Our customers are moving because they are sharing with a boyfriend, moving up a year in university or are choosing different flatmates. They are moving because they have more options than in previous generations."

Even owner-occupiers are more mobile today. Brett Jefferies, 31, has bought and sold homes in Edinburgh three times in as many years. "My long-term girlfriend and I just decided we needed more room so we're looking to move even though we only just bought the flat we're in now. We just bought it to redecorate and sell it on, really.

"I don't feel particularly attached to places, even though you take pride in any improvements you have made."

The study found older generations were more likely to move straight from their parents' house into the marital home, moving once or twice to bigger properties as the family grew, then a retirement property.

But they also bought property at a time when it was harder to get a mortgage and more emphasis was placed on paying off a loan than constantly extending the amount borrowed.

There was also less profit to be made out of property.