UK homeowners prefer ‘smaller, more energy-efficient’ homes, report claims

Buyer demand remains subdued in the face of relatively high borrowing costs, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors says

Some property professionals are seeing trends towards home buyers looking for smaller, more affordable homes (Rebekah Downes/PA) (PA Wire)

Some property professionals are seeing trends towards home buyers looking for smaller, more affordable homes and people moving out of older homes to buy more energy-efficient new-builds, according to surveyors.

Overall, there are signs that buyer demand remains subdued in the face of relatively high borrowing costs, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said.

Its April market survey of the UK property market found that a net balance of 37 per cent of professionals reported demand from buyers falling, rather than rising.