Energy costs drive demand for greener homes, Rightmove report finds – Mortgage Strategy

More homebuyers are looking for properties that offer greater energy independence as household bills rise, according to Rightmove’s 2026 Greener Homes Report.

The report said that 63% of home movers ideally want their home to generate most or all of its own energy.

Only 8% said they would prefer to rely entirely on the grid, while 53% reported that recent energy price increases had strengthened their interest in solar panels and home batteries.

The report combines data from more than 17 million Energy Performance Certificates and almost 30 million property listings with a survey of 1,062 UK consumers conducted in August.

References to heat pumps in newly-listed homes have increased by 151% since 2022, while references to solar panels have risen by 94%, Rightmove found.

The findings come as energy costs continue to weigh on household finances. Ofgem’s price cap increased by 4% on 1 October to £1,723 a year for a typical household.

Keeping homes comfortable during warmer weather is another emerging priority for buyers.

Rightmove found that 87% of home movers considered a property’s ability to stay cool important. Almost half (45%) said their existing home was too hot in recent heatwaves.

Rightmove’s Energy Bills Tracker puts estimated annual bills for an EPC A-rated home at £706, compared with £2,337 for the average home. For a property rated EPC G, estimated annual bills reach £6,379.

Brody Isaac, head of sustainability at The Hill Group, said the impact of warmer summers and more frequent extreme weather was increasingly influencing decisions about how UK homes should be designed and built.