New research launched by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, World Wildlife Fund and Halifax reveals that eighty seven per cent of homebuyers want to know how their homes rate in terms of environmental friendliness in order to make an informed decision as part of this major purchase.
But 66% of buyers say they are not given adequate information about the technical specifications of a new home.
Top of the list of eco-friendly assets buyers consider important are:
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Improved levels of energy efficiency
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Lower running costs
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Enhanced air quality and daylight
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Use of low allergy and environmentally friendly material
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Water efficiency
Buyers prepared to pay more for eco-homes
Eighty four per cent of those surveyed are prepared to pay an average 2% extra of the purchase price for environmentally sound homes.
In fact, earlier WWF research has shown that major benefits can already be achieved for less: cuts in energy and water use of approximately 30% and 40% respectively are achievable for little or no extra cost to house builders.
Asked whether house builders should be made to introduce environmental measures as a standard part of new home design, one empty nester in Hull said, “I know a couple of people who have solar heating and it’s already paid for itself, so why not?”
The survey also revealed that:
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79% of people consider space to be the most important feature when buying a home, yet say they are rarely given information on overall property and room sizes.
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69% of buyers feel that house builders do not provide sufficient information on the technical aspects of new homes, particularly on the quality of the plumbing, electrics and foundations.
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55% feel that the quality of building materials and workmanship in most new homes was not good, particularly from those who had actually lived in new homes.
Many prospective buyers are not well informed when it comes to judging how well a house is built. Some buyers surveyed admitted that they simply “hadn’t a clue” about how to check how good the standard of construction was.
The findings show that the public want the sort of information promised by the government’s planned Home Seller’s Information Pack, which home owners and sellers will be required to make available to prospective buyers by January 2006.
Whilst welcoming the inclusion of surveys and energy efficiency assessments of new homes in the pack, CABE and WWF are concerned that the Home Sellers Pack will fall short of providing the basic information consumers clearly want and need to help them make educated judgements and get value for money.
Robin Nicholson, CABE Commissioner and a leading architect of sustainable buildings said: “Buying a house can be a lottery. If you are buying a car, you get any number of specifications allowing you to make easy comparisons on fuel consumption and value for money. We should get exactly the same quality of information on the environmental performance of our homes."
"This survey reflects a much higher priority placed on environmental issues by home buyers than we had all previously assumed.”
CABE’s new Home Buyer's Guide published this month provides guidance for potential homebuyers. The book offers practical advice on what to look and ask for in terms of design, sustainability, materials, space and light, location, neighbourhood – and aims to help people make an informed choice about the design quality of the homes they are viewing.
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