Released today, results from the Building Societies Association (BSA) quarterly Property Tracker survey reveals that:

• Risk of job loss as a barrier to home ownership continues to decline
• Around a half of consumers think house prices will continue to rise
• Energy efficiency rating considered important when people looking to buy a new home

The latest Property Tracker survey from the Building Societies Association (BSA), reveals that the housing market is looking resilient despite the end of Government support schemes looming.

Although the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough) will finally close at the end of the month which may lead to additional redundancies, just over a third of people cite a risk of job loss as a barrier to homeownership (34%), compared to 68% in September 2020 and 45% just three months ago.

The end of the stamp duty holiday also appears not to be denting confidence, with just over one in four people (26%) thinking now is a good time to buy a new home, with a similar number (25%) disagreeing, giving a net 1% confidence in the housing market.

Expectations of house prices continuing to rise remains high, with almost half of the respondents (46%) expecting further price increases in the next 12 months.

Energy Efficiency of Homes

In the survey this month we asked for consumers’ views on the importance of a property’s energy efficiency rating and what incentives and/or barriers there are to having a greener home. 

Almost three quarters of respondents (72%) said the energy efficiency rating of a property was important when looking to buy a new home, with one in five (21%) of these saying it’s very important.  

Asked what would encourage them to buy an energy efficient home, over half said a lower council tax rate (56%) or a cheaper energy tariff (53%).  A cheaper mortgage and evidence that the energy efficient improvements will add value to the home were also strong incentives at 43% and 39% respectively.

The biggest barrier for homeowners making energy efficient improvements to their current home is meeting the initial upfront costs, with half the respondents (50%) citing this. Taking too long to recover the cost of energy efficient improvements (46%) and being unsure about how much money would be saved as a result of the changes (40%) are also significant barriers for homeowners.

The majority of people think some energy efficient improvements will add to a property’s value, such as replacing the windows and doors (73%) and upgrading the central heating system (70%). However, only a small proportion of homeowners have actually made these changes – just 15% have replaced their windows and doors and 11% have upgraded their central heating system in the last 12 months.

Commenting, Paul Broadhead, Head of Mortgage and Housing Policy at the BSA said:

“These latest results are a positive sign that despite the end of some of the coronavirus support measures this month, it appears that the housing market will continue to remain buoyant.  

“It’s very encouraging to see that the energy efficiency rating of a property is high on consumers' radar when buying a new home. However, whilst people can recognise the tangible value of making environmental improvements, it’s disappointing that so few have actually made changes to their own property. 

“If Government is serious about meeting its emissions targets, more information and effective incentives are required.  With COP26 just weeks away, now is the time to stand up and make stronger commitments and actions to improving the energy efficiency of our housing stock.”     

Notes to Editors:

1. Paul Broadhead, Head of Mortgage and Housing Policy at the BSA is available for interview.  Please contact Tanya Jackson or Katie Wise to arrange.
2. For the September Property Tracker survey fieldwork was undertaken between 2-3 September 2021. Total sample size was 2041 adults. The survey was carried out online. Additional fieldwork was undertaken between 7 -8 September. The total sample size was 2027 adults. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). Figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.
3. The Building Societies Association (BSA) represents all 43 UK building societies, as well as 6 credit unions. Building societies have total assets of over £435 billion and, together with their subsidiaries, hold residential mortgages over £338 billion, 23% of the total outstanding in the UK. They hold over £297 billion of retail deposits, accounting for 17% of all such deposits in the UK. Building societies account for 37% of all cash ISA balances. They employ approximately 42,500 full and part-time staff and operate through approximately 1,380 branches.
4. The full Property Tracker Report can be downloaded here (will be available from 29 September 2021).
5. Respondents were given the option to select up to three’ barriers’ when asked what they think are most likely to stop someone from buying a residential property at the moment.
6. Those likely to buy are existing home owners as well as people who say that they are looking to buy their first home, or return to the market having previously owned, and who also say they are likely to move in the next six months.

Press contacts:

Tanya Jackson, External Affairs, Tel: 07881 501098 tanya.jackson@bsa.org.uk

Hilary McVitty, Head of External Affairs, Tel: 07741 984042, hilary.mcvitty@bsa.org.uk

Katie Wise, External Affairs Officer, Tel: 020 7520 5904, katie.wise@bsa.org.uk