Conservatories fall out of fashion
Conservatories fall out of fashion as fewer than one in 10 homes boast the former must-have feature
The latest market analysis from eXp UK has revealed that conservatories appear to have fallen out of favour with England’s homeowners, with fewer than one in 10 properties currently listed for sale offering the once-popular home improvement.
eXp UK analysed almost 400,000 current property listings across England, looking at the prevalence of gardens, patios, balconies and conservatories to reveal which summer-focused features remain most common within today’s housing stock.
The research shows that gardens remain by far the most widely available feature, found in 76.4% of homes currently listed for sale. Patios are present in 18.5% of properties, while balconies feature in 13.6%.
In contrast, just 8.6% of homes currently on the market boast a conservatory, suggesting that a feature once viewed as a highly desirable way to add space and bring the outdoors into the home has become far less common within the modern property landscape.
The East Midlands is home to the highest proportion of conservatory stock, with the feature found in 12.3% of homes currently listed for sale.
The West Midlands follows at 11.4%, ahead of the East of England at 10.4%, the South East at 10.2% and the South West at 10%.
Yorkshire and the Humber also sits above the national average at 9.4%, while conservatories are less common across the North East at 7.8% and the North West at 7.6%.
London ranks lowest of all, with just 2.9% of current listings offering a conservatory. This is likely to reflect the capital’s more urban housing mix, where space is at a premium and flats account for a far greater proportion of available stock. Instead, balconies are considerably more common, featuring in 28.8% of London listings.
Adam Day, Head of eXp UK and Europe, commented:
“The conservatory was once one of the most sought-after additions to the nation’s homes, offering an affordable way to create more living space while making the most of a garden outlook.
However, tastes have evolved and many buyers now favour open-plan extensions, garden rooms and more energy-efficient additions that can be used comfortably throughout the year.
That does not mean a well-designed conservatory cannot still add considerable appeal. When properly insulated, maintained and integrated into the wider home, it can remain a valuable and versatile space.
But the fact that fewer than one in 10 current listings offer one suggests the conservatory is no longer the default home improvement it once was, with today’s sellers and buyers placing greater emphasis on other forms of indoor and outdoor living.”
You May Also Enjoy
Seven things to do if a tree damages your property
Leasing demand rises across all sectors
Don’t Put The Property Market On Pause
Before You Sign: 10 Things Home Movers Wish They Knew
Property expert warns homeowners to lock in amid mortgage rates uncertainty
