63% of homebuyers shun areas with high air pollution

Research by eXp UK, the network of personal estate agents, reveals that 63% of homebuyers actively avoided areas of high air pollution when on the hunt for their current home.

eXp UK commissioned a survey of over 3,000 UK homebuyers who have purchased their property within the last six months to gauge how important air pollution was during the decision making process.

When asked if they were concerned about air pollution in general, 67% stated that it was a concern.

63% went on to confirm that, while searching for their last property, they actively disregard areas with high air pollution levels.

31% stated that this avoidance was to secure a better standard of life; 23% said it was due to general concerns about the health of the planet; 22% said it was about protecting their own personal health; and 15% pointed to the health of their children.

What’s more, 30% of homebuyers surveyed by eXp UK actually chose to move further away from their desired locations just to ensure lower air pollution around their home.

Air pollution is currently a hot topic and nowhere more so than in London, where the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) is set to expand across all boroughs from 29th August 2023.

While these plans have been met with both strong support and clamorous disdain, it seems as though the nation’s homebuyers are largely in support of such schemes.

eXp UK found that 67% are in favour of schemes such as the ULEZ, with 83% stating there should be more schemes designed to lower air pollution rolled out across other areas of the UK.

For those who place air pollution at the forefront of their property search, online tools are available to help you narrow down your search.

Head of eXp UK, Adam Day, commented:

“It’s clear from this survey that, given the opportunity, most people will choose to avoid living in areas of high air pollution. But many people don’t have the luxury of choosing because they have to stay in certain built-up areas for work, schools or other family obligations.

So it certainly appears that the increasing appeal of the commuter belt and beyond isn’t just about affordability; it’s about health as well, which, in turn, leads to a better quality of life.

Of course, this could be seen as a double-edged sword as more demand for housing in less polluted areas will inevitably result in pollution levels rising.

However, schemes such as the ULEZ in London are one way of curbing this increase in air pollution to ensure that those residing within a given area are safeguarded from a growing population.”