Searches for homes with air conditioning jump 104% amid summer heatwaves, Rightmove finds

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Mark Wiggin, director at Mark Wiggin Estate Agents: 

“This summer’s heatwaves have made buyers think more carefully about how a home performs in hot weather. 

“We’re seeing growing interest in features that can help keep homes comfortable, such as air source heat pumps, solar panels and air conditioning. 

“Overseas buyers in particular increasingly expect air conditioning as standard, and we’re beginning to see more conversations about it here in the UK too. 

“At the same time, buyers are paying much closer attention to running costs than they did a few years ago. 

“Energy efficiency and a home’s ability to stay comfortable throughout the year have become much more important considerations when people are deciding where to live.”

James Waight, head of sales at John D Wood & Co.: 

“Keeping cool is increasingly becoming part of the property wish list, particularly as we experience what is on course to be the hottest summer on record. 

“We are seeing buyers pay closer attention to air conditioning, ventilation and how well a home retains a comfortable temperature during warmer months. 

“Overheating is a particular consideration for contemporary properties with extensive glazing, which can become surprisingly hot in summer. 

“As a result, buyers are becoming increasingly mindful of how a property is constructed and how efficiently it performs throughout the year – looking for homes that can stay cool in summer while also retaining heat in winter. 

“With heatwaves becoming an increasingly familiar part of British summer, this is no longer simply a nice to have but an important factor in the decision to buy a property.”

Ian Harris, president of NAEA Propertymark: 

“Whilst air conditioning is clearly becoming a more visible feature on buyers’ wish lists, agents are seeing a broader shift in what people want from a home: comfort and liveability are increasingly being considered alongside traditional factors such as location, space and price. 

“What is particularly interesting is that buyers are becoming more alert to how a property will perform in different conditions, rather than simply looking at individual features. 

“Agents are increasingly fielding questions about ventilation, natural shade, glazing, orientation and energy costs, with buyers wanting to understand what living in a property will actually feel like throughout the year. This is an important change in buyer behaviour.

“As hotter summers become more familiar, the ability of a home to remain comfortable in warm weather is likely to become a more established consideration during viewings and valuations, rather than something buyers only think about once they have moved in.”