A new survey from Primelocation has revealed the major turnoffs for homebuyers across the United Kingdom (UK). It appears that loud or antisocial neighbors are the number-one factor that discourages a purchaser from going through with a transaction, although those living in London proper appeared somewhat less bothered by the prospect of a noisy neighbor. As for what convinces buyers to part with their money, security outranked amenities like swimming pools and tennis courts. The survey also focused on community spirit, which was found to be waning in many places, perhaps due to the younger generations’ habit of moving around more. For more on this continue reading the following article from Property Wire.
Anti social neighbours are the biggest turn off to prospective home buyers in the UK, according to a new survey.
Some 57% of those surveyed by Primelocation listed loud or anti social neighbours as the most likely reason for being put off a home purchase.
Home buyers in the East and North East of England are most put off by the thought of bad neighbours with 61% of respondents claiming this as the leading detractor from a purchase. Londoner’s seem less bothered with just 52% of potential buyers in the capital stating that noisy neighbours would be a key off putting factor.
Security ranked very highly as an important factor in a property being considered as ‘prime’ with private gates and security cameras coming in above swimming pools, tennis courts and walk in wardrobes as must haves amongst potential buyers of prime property.
‘Discerning buyers don’t simply look for a good location but want to live in a good neighbourhood too,’ said Lawrence Hall of Primelocation.
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‘The quality of the neighbours and the security of the property are both clearly important factors for prime buyers,’ he added.
Meanwhile, research from the Yorkshire Building Society shows that less than half of the UK trust their neighbours, more than a quarter do not even know who lives next door and only a third of people would welcome new arrivals to their neighbourhood.
A total of 28% do not trust their neighbours and more than a quarter, 26%, do not even know who lives next door to them and the problem is increasing with younger residents declaring they are less welcoming than older generations. Some 62% of people aged 55 or older said they trust their neighbours, but only 30% of 16 to 24 year olds feel the same way.
Scottish and Welsh residents were the most community minded, with 39% of house holders in both countries willing to make new people feel at home, compared to only 13% London while nationally 11% of those quizzed admitted being suspicious of new residents, with another 14% saying they were less trusting of people from outside their own communities.
‘The UK has always been very proud of its community spirit but it seems neighbourliness is not as prevalent as we might think. At the Yorkshire we pride ourselves in getting involved in and engaging with the communities where our branches are based and where our people live and work,’ said Chris Pilling, Yorkshire Building Society’s chief executive.
‘We believe that trust is essential and we make every effort to talk to our members, get to know the areas where they live and help support their neighbourhoods so they become shared communities,’ he added.
Proffessor Karen Pine of the University of Hertfordshire’s School of Psychology said that part of the change is due to social mobility increasing which means that fewer people are being raised in and living in close knit communities.
‘This means people are increasingly less likely to form strong bonds with the people who live near them. Many younger people create communities online these days, rather than with their neighbours. As humans we have evolved with a certain innate mistrust of people who are different. Our ancestors would have had to protect their family and food supplies and newcomers might have been a threat to this,’ she added.
This article was republished with permission from Property Wire.
