How much is south-facing garden actually worth?
‘’…And a lovely, south-facing garden’ – we’ve seen the phrase in many a property listing, but how much does a south-facing garden really add to the price of a house?
With the lockdown, outside spaces have become more sought after than ever, but even beforehand, south-facing gardens were considered desirable because they get sunlight for more of the day. In urban areas, where gardens are smaller, narrower and more shaded, it’s even more important. It is such an issue that agents regularly report people checking the compasses on their phones during viewings to check the house’s exact orientation.
Putting a value on it, however, is not so simple. Fortunately, Rightmove have now done most of the hard work, trawling through their data in search of answers. So what did they find?
Of the 400,000 homes they analysed, the average increase in value was £22,695, or 7%. In London, you’d expect those figures to be even higher, and they were, in financial terms – £57,903 – but in percentage terms they only ranked third, which suggests there is a ceiling to what people are prepared to pay. The keenest gardeners are to be found in Yorkshire and The Humber, which saw the biggest percentage boost at 14%.
Region Asking price premium Price difference
Yorkshire & Humber 14% £35,628
North West 12% £31,698
London 9% £57,903
South East London 9% £38,535
East London 9% £33,959
North East 8% £14,613
West Midlands 8% £23,038
Wales 6% £15,088
South West 6% £21,768
East Midlands 5% £14,119
Scotland 3% £7,596
East of England 2% £8,559
South East 2% £8,000
Average GB 7% £22,695
During their research Rightmove discovered south-facing gardens didn’t just affect the price of a house, they also meant the house sold faster. Again, Yorkshire and The Humber performed best, shaving 8 days off the a property’s time on the market. The average across the country was 2 days or around 5%.
Region standard time to find buyer Days saved
Yorkshire & Humber 47 8
North East 58 6
West Midlands 42 5
South West 47 4
East of England 49 4
Scotland 33 3
East Midlands 44 3
Wales 47 1
South East 50 0
London 45 0
North West 48 0
Average GB 47 2
In more general terms, Rightmove also report searches for gardens were up by 56% since lockdown began. It means that, even if your garden is not south-facing, it still adds to the attraction of your home and it’s therefore important to make the most of all your outside spaces, mowing the lawn, repairing and painting fences and sheds. You should then make sure you get some really good shots taken, especially while all the flowers are still out.
Rightmove’s Miles Shipside says,
“Since the market reopened we’ve seen a huge rise in demand for homes with a garden as buyers place greater importance on outdoor space. For as long as I can remember, south-facing gardens have been viewed as the crème de la crème of outdoor spaces among home-hunters.
“It doesn’t mean your house will automatically be worth £22,000 more if it has a south-facing garden as this is an average and it will also depend on the condition and location of your home, but it’s certainly something to shout about in a listing as it could mean your home makes it on to a buyer’s shortlist over another property down the road, or even on the other side of the street.”
