Condition is key for house hunters in social housing, new study finds

The condition of a property is the number one consideration for those who currently live in social housing, according to a new study by comparison site Go.Compare.

The data found that a third (33%) of those in social housing said a property’s condition would be a key factor they’d look for when house hunting - more than any other feature listed in the study.*

The figures come from the latest survey by Go.Compare home insurance, which asked Brits for the five most important factors when choosing a home. When the results were split by house tenure, those in social housing were the only group to state that condition was the top consideration. This follows reports that complaints about substandard living conditions in social housing are five times higher than five years ago.** 

Cost came in a very close second to property condition, with 32% of those in social housing saying it was a top consideration.

Those in social housing are also more likely to seek out properties based on community factors, according to the comparison site’s study.* Neighbourhood facilities and friendliness were picked by 27% and 24% of these residents, respectively, compared to just 18% and 12% of those who own their home with a mortgage.

Overall, price was the most important factor across all householders, with just under half (47%) of all respondents saying this was a key consideration, placing it far above the other aspects in the study. 

Location placed second, with 37% of respondents saying this was important to them, followed by a property’s condition (34%) and garden (32%). The number of bedrooms in the home completed the top five, which was picked by three in 10 (30%).

UK’s top 10 most important factors when picking a home

Nathan Blackler, home insurance spokesperson at Go.Compare, said: “Given the current financial climate, it’s not surprising that price was the top house hunting consideration for pretty much everyone in our latest study.

“Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to hear cases of social housing being left in need of urgent maintenance work, so it seems bad experiences have likely influenced the way these residents look at prospective homes. The figures just put a further spotlight on the conditions some social housing residents are unfairly forced to put up with, and that more needs to be done to provide them with the comfort everyone deserves.”

While finances were a key influence for many house hunters, the respondents were split on whether high insurance prices would impact their decision. Around a third (34%) said a large difference (e.g., £300) in the cost of home insurance would affect their decision, with marginally more (35%) saying such costs wouldn’t influence them. A similar percentage (31%) said they weren’t sure if it would impact them.

Nathan added: “With finances being a key factor for many house hunters, it’s interesting to see that respondents were divided over whether insurance prices would affect their choice. Premiums can vary significantly by location due to factors like flood risk and crime rates, so we would urge anyone seeking a property to take insurance costs into consideration before signing on the dotted line. 

“While the property might be within your budget, you could end up being spread too thin if its running costs, like insurance and energy expenses, turn out to be greater than average. This could make living in your dream property a nightmare rather than a joy.”

More insights on the nation’s house hunting priorities can be found on Go.Compare’s website.

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