Buyers racanean the price of sustainable homes

The rise in energy prices has increased to 95% the interest of those who seek to buy or rent a flat for the sustainability of housing, but only 54% of future buyers would agree to pay more for a more efficient home and even these no more than 10% additional, according to data presented on Tuesday in a joint study conducted by Solvia and Fotocasa.

María Matos, director of studies and spokesperson for Fotocasa, acknowledged that the economic factor has pushed the interest in sustainability: 69.4% of buyers value it because they consider it an investment since it will reduce their bills in the long term, compared to 43.1% who recognize concern for the environment and 31.7% motivated by the quality of the materials of the house.

investment

The main interest is in reducing the energy bill

Among tenants, there is still less interest in seeking sustainable housing (39%), and the weight of reducing energy bills in this interest is also a priority (63.3%).

The majority of citizens surveyed by Solvia and Fotocasa would be willing to pay extra cost to acquire a sustainable home. However, 49% would not pay more than an additional 5% to buy an efficient residence and 33% would not assume an extra cost greater than 10%. In the case of renting, where only 39% value sustainability in their search, only 14% would be willing to assume 10% more rent.

According to the data of the real estate portal, the average price of a house in Spain in February was 1,898 euros / m², so for an average house, of 80 m², with a price of about 151,000 euros, 10% of the surcharge is lower than the cost of a reform. According to the technicians of the Green Building Council Spain, improving the energy efficiency of an average house of about 80 m² requires an investment of between 20,000 and 30,000 euros. in large cities, where housing is very expensive, the percentage increase in this work is more affordable.

Extra cost

For an average home, the cost of the reform exceeds the expectations of buyers

Spokesmen for Fotocasa stressed that the final cost, however, may be much lower "due to the aid that exists right now for the reform and rehabilitation of second-hand homes." As an example, they point out, the installation of solar panels could cost 7,000 euros, but "with the current aid that investment would be about 5,000". In addition, they recalled, the rehabilitation of housing can achieve other benefits such as the reduction of the IBI or tax deductions if they affect their energy efficiency.

Those looking for a second-hand home do take into account energy efficiency to plan their reform. According to the survey, 87% of those looking for used housing assume that they will have to reform it, and the actions that are prioritized increase the energy efficiency of the house. Thus, among the reforms that are considered priorities in their new home, 50.9% would improve the insulation of the windows, 44% that of the walls, 43% would change the boiler for a more efficient one, 35% would put air conditioning and another 31% would put awnings or blinds. Along with these reforms, the updating of the kitchen (44%), the bathroom (41%) and a change in the distribution of interior spaces (26%) are also considered important.

"Sustainability is an important challenge in the housing sector," said Solvia spokesman Víctor González, who recalled that "sustainability occupies an increasingly prominent place on the agenda of the real estate sector, within the European goal of reducing carbon emissions by 55% by 2030, and to make an emission-neutral building stock a reality by 2050."