Houseowners prepared to pay more for “future proof” housing

By Tony Watts - Editor - 14/02/2008

House prices may be stagnating – so developers could be missing a trick, as buyers would be prepared to add £10,000 to the price… if it was built or adapted to allow them to live there during their later life.

 

According to B&Q, 29% of us would pay a premium for a property that was “future-proofed”, while 11% would pay up to £15,000 more. Nine out of 10 homeowners said they want to stay in their own home for the rest of their life.

 

Jo Kenrick, marketing and customer proposition director at B&Q, said: "Britons live in fear of losing their independence later in life but the reality is, at some point in our lives, we will all experience the frustration of being less mobile, less strong or less able - be it through age, illness or disability."

 

And the message the housing industry could take from this is: design your homes with the needs of older people in mind and you could well have a market advantage.