Tuesday 27 November 2007
A research survey conducted by movewithus, the UK’s leading property services group, has revealed that the smoking ban in July and the poor weather during the summer has led a third of home movers (36 per cent) to consider upgrading their properties to allow more space to entertain at home. In fact, almost four in ten respondents (39 per cent) said they were more likely to entertain at home now following the smoking ban, especially as winter sets in and smokers are forced outside in freezing conditions if they wish to indulge their habit.
Moreover, two thirds of home movers in the UK (65 per cent) would consider buying a house with a roof terrace, patio or balcony following the smoking ban, which would also give them their own outside space for smoking – perhaps sheltered and heated in the winter.
There is evidence, though, that a property’s marketability is adversely affected by being inhabited by a smoker. The movewithus survey shows that more than half (58 per cent) of home movers would possibly be put off buying a home which they could tell had previously been inhabited by a smoker. Indeed, almost a third (30 per cent) said they would definitely not consider a property that had been inhabited by a smoker. Smokers may do well to take advantage of outdoor spaces when smoking at home to protect the re-sale value of their property.
Robin King, director of movewithus, said: “The smoking ban may not only be affecting pubs, but now property as well. Our survey shows that the smoking ban, which has changed the local pub forever, has had a knock on effect on the property markets as many buyers now are looking for bigger home entertainment areas when considering a property purchase. It now seems that a property with good entertainment spaces inside and out would make a sound long term investment given the evidence that homes inhabited by smokers may be at a disadvantage when it comes to the time to sell; this can be mitigated by smokers using outdoor spaces which would reduce the detrimental effects of smoke on home furnishings.”
