With summer approaching and the housing market remaining highly competitive, homeowners are turning to their gardens in search of added value.
New research from over-50s property specialists Regency Living reveals that well-planned garden enhancements can increase a home’s value by as much as £20,000 – offering strong returns for those prepared to invest in their outdoor spaces.
Top of the list is the addition of a garden room or office, which can increase a property’s value by 7.5% – equivalent to £20,141 based on the UK’s current average house price of £268,548.
Closely behind is a conservatory, adding 7% or £18,798, by extending the usable footprint of the home.
LIFESTYLE-DRIVE
More lifestyle-driven improvements are also proving popular. A fully fitted outdoor kitchen – complete with grill, refrigeration, dining space and integrated landscaping – can add up to 5.6%, or £15,039. A prefabricated summer house delivers a 5% uplift (£13,427), offering a more affordable alternative to a permanent garden structure.
Traditional landscaping, involving paths, patios, and planting schemes, can enhance a home’s value by 4.5% (£12,085), while a decked or paved patio area typically adds around 4.3% (£11,548).
More niche features provide smaller gains. A hot tub adds around 3% or £8,056, while a garden bar might yield a 2.6% increase (£6,982). A shed or outdoor storage contributes 2.5% (£6,714), and a firepit area adds a modest 1.2% (£3,223).
While larger gardens offer more scope, Regency Living says that even compact spaces can benefit from creative design.
ADDING VALUE
Tim Simmons, Sales and Marketing Director at Regency Living, says: “Maximising garden space is always a good way to add value to the home. And while it’s always easier to do if you have a generous space to work with, don’t worry if your garden is on the small side and unable to accommodate an outdoor kitchen or garden office.
“On our Park Bungalow sites, we see people use lots of creative and wonderful ways of maximising their gardens that really help their homes stand out from the rest.
“And when it comes to property value, a home is worth exactly what someone is willing to pay for it, so if you’re creating something unusual and a step above the competition, even in modest ways, you’re going to capture buyer attention and inevitably increase the price they’re willing to pay.”
