While a swimming pool may seem like the perfect property feature ahead of the summer months, new research from estate agency Yopa suggests buyers are far less enthusiastic when it comes to putting their money where their mouth is.
Yopa’s latest analysis reveals that homes with a swimming pool account for less than 5% of properties currently for sale in England, and even then, just one in five have secured a buyer.
In contrast, 41% of homes across the wider market have found buyers.
The scarcity of pool-equipped homes has done little to lift demand. The average asking price for a property with a pool stands at £490,498 – almost double the wider market average of £267,500. In London, that figure soars to £961,006, with similarly high premiums seen in the South East (£793,813) and East of England (£601,276).
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Despite London’s reputation for luxury property, demand for swimming pools is notably muted. Just 9% of homes with a pool in the capital have a buyer lined up, the lowest rate in the country. By contrast, the South West (29%), East of England (27%) and South East (27%) show relatively stronger, albeit still subdued, levels of interest.
Verona Frankish, Chief Executive of Yopa, says: “While a swimming pool can seem like the ultimate property feature, particularly during spells of warm weather, it’s probably not as appealing as you might think.
“Pools are expensive to maintain and properties with them often command a significant premium, even when it’s simply access to a communal facility in a new-build development.”
Frankish adds that despite the limited supply of homes with pools, buyer demand remains well below the broader market, underlining the pool’s status as a luxury that, for many buyers, is simply not worth the cost.
