Over two thirds of British homeowners want all new builds to be eco-friendly, a report has suggested and almost a fifth would be prepeared prepared to pay out more for them.

“Green issues are now a firm part of the homemover’s agenda,” said insurer, More Than.  A fifth of those questioned would specifically look for green features in a new house, and almost a third claim that if they did move, they would invest time and money from the outset to make environmental improvements to their new home.

Up to a third would pay up to £500 making their homes greener, a further fifth would spend between £500 and £1,000 and one in ten would pay over £1,000. 

But a massive eight out of ten would consider making environmental improvements to their homes if they could get a reduction in their council tax, and a third would if they could get lower mortgage rates.

Housing and planning minister Yvette Cooper said: "It is great that consumers are embracing green measures and seeking better information about the eco credentials of their homes.”

“From this June every home that is bought and sold will have to have an energy performance certificate setting out A-G ratings on the carbon emissions and energy efficiency of the home and savings that can be made on bills.” 

“There is also great potential to link energy performance certificates with green mortgages where home buyers could get top up loans at preferential rates to complete energy efficiency improvements. I hope this is something industry will look at in the future.”

When it comes to their current properties, over half of those questioned believe they already have an ‘eco-friendly’ house and one in four has already made environmental improvements to their homes including: recycling, using energy-efficient light bulbs and renewable energy, putting in solar thermal hot water systems, and using natural materials in the building and decoration of their homes.