Wealthy homeowners and cash-rich investors have even fuelled a modest rise in house prices in recent months.

Now, shops are using them to demonstrate to their customers how green they are and less wealthy homeowners are using them for insulation.

Wealthy homeowners from abroad may also be anticipating changes to the non-dom status legislation.

Wealthy homeowners who cannot prove their income have flocked to apply for mortgages through a new website willing to lend money without seeing evidence of earnings.

Interior designers for some of the world's most prestigious developers and wealthy homeowners are unanimous - there are a few key brands that do matter to the moneyed.