Just 12% of British holiday homeowners in Italy say that they benefit from speaking the language abroad, according to a new survey conducted by holidaylettings.co.uk. Whilst this may demonstrate the nation's linguistic failings, it also indicates that being unfamiliar with the Italian language is not necessarily a barrier to buying property in the country.

But the survey also revealed that when it comes to the property transaction itself and dealing with local service providers, a grasp of the language is certainly beneficial - 30% of second homeowners who have bought in Europe in the last ten years agreed.

Ross Elder, MD of holidaylettings.co.uk said, "The statistics heed as a useful spot of advice when doing business abroad."