Homebuyers shun whiff of air pollution

New data reveals nearly two-thirds of homebuyers actively avoided areas of high air pollution when on the hunt for their current home.

The research by eXp UK, the network of personal estate agents, was 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. A total of 63% went on to confirm that, while searching for their last property, they actively disregard areas with high air pollution levels.

Head of eXp UK Adam Day, said: “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.”

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 division between staunch support and disdain, it seems as though the nation’s homebuyers are largely in support of such schemes. The survey 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.