Are you breaking these etiquette rules?

Visiting a friend? Here are ten etiquette rules you should never break when visiting someone's house. Photo / Getty

Want to be the perfect house-guest and get invited back again? Don't use your phone, always take off your shoes and never ask for the Wi-Fi password.

An etiquette study has revealed the 10 rudest things you can do as a house guest, according to homeowners - and you should take note.

The survey found that it's bad manners to ask for the internet access code, while 89 per cent branded using a phone at the table as the biggest house guest faux pas.

Wearing shoes on the carpet as a house-guest is a no-no, with 64 per cent revealing they think guests should take off their shoes when entering someone else's home.

Intrusion of privacy also rated highly in the house guest faux pas survey - conducted in the UK - with 58 per cent admitting they thought it rude for guests to look in their bedroom without permission, and a further 52 per cent saying they don't like it when people peer in their fridge through fear of being judged.

When it comes to home entertaining, 24 per cent said they would expect a gift from dinner guests, with a bottle of wine being the preferred token, compared to just three per cent who expect a gift from daytime visitors.

In contrast, 22 per cent of people said they thought it was impolite for guests to turn down food when it was offered. But 88 per cent thought it was wrong when guests helped themselves to food without asking first.

When it comes to guests' furry friends, Brits are incredibly welcoming. While 87 per cent agreed that it was bad-mannered to put your feet on other people's furniture, 61 per cent said they would be happy for guests to let their dog curl up on the sofa.

Despite their generous nature, 19 per cent of people said they would appreciate being asked first before bringing a pet into their home, small children, allergies and unwanted animal hair as the main reasons.

A spokesperson for DiscountFlooringDepot.co.uk, who commissioned the research, said:

"... my advice to people with houseguests who commit the occasional faux pas is to try and feel glad that any guests committing them simply feel comfortable enough in your home to treat it as their own."

Top ten house-guest etiquette faux pas

1. Being on your phone over lunch / dinner
2. Asking for the Wi-Fi code
3. Wearing shoes on the carpet
4. Looking in bedrooms without permission
5. Looking inside the fridge without asking
6. Turning up to a dinner party without a gift
7. Helping yourself to food without asking
8. Putting your feet on the furniture
9. Turning down food when asked
10. Bringing around a pet without asking first