Homebuyers put off by 24-hour pubs
Saturday, 18 Feb 2006 09:10
Homebuyers are concerned by drunks coming out of 24-hour pubs
Two in five homebuyers are put off by homes located close to 24 hour pubs for fear of having drunks stumbling past their doorstep at all hours of the day.
First-time buyers are less concerned, however, with only 27 per cent avoiding a home that is just steps away from their local pub, according to research by Yorkshire Bank.
Gary Lumby, Yorkshire Bank's head of retail said: "First-time buyers are traditionally aged under 35 so the prospect of living near a pub for many will be seen as a positive rather than a negative."
The research also reveals that 'soaring' gas and electricity prices are driving buyers to find more energy efficient homes, to ease to cost of utility bills.
One in three first-time buyers and 25 per cent of existing homeowners would avoid properties which lacked basic energy efficient basics – such as double-glazing and cavity wall insulation.
Electricity prices have risen by around 30 per cent since 2003 and gas prices by a massive 40 per cent, according to figures from Energywatch, the independent gas and electricity consumer watchdog.
British Gas last week confirmed that it is increasing prices by 22 per cent from March 1st.
"Households are now having to fork out hundreds of pounds more each year to pay for their gas and electricity than they did three years ago - a figure which will be even higher for homes which aren't energy efficient," said Mr Lumby.
"First-time buyers tend to see a higher proportion of their income going on monthly mortgage repayments than other groups, so energy costs are an even bigger issue - many may not have budgeted on spending quite so much money on heating their homes.
"Our advice for buyers when looking around homes is to check the quality of windows, insulation and look at the surveyor's report to see if the potential home has cavity wall insulation."
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