New research from full-service estate agency Yopa highlights 12 factors that could significantly reduce the value of a residential property – some by as much as 20%.
While well-known structural risks such as subsidence or the presence of Japanese knotweed regularly sound alarm bells, the findings reveal that even unexpected features, like an unused swimming pool, can have a similarly severe impact on house prices.
Using the current average UK house price of £268,319 as a benchmark, Yopa’s analysis quantifies how much value homeowners stand to lose based on a range of physical, environmental, and neighbour-related issues.
The most damaging factor is subsidence – a structural issue that often requires expensive repair and underpins major concerns about long-term stability. This can reduce a home’s market value by up to 20%, equating to a loss of £53,664 based on average UK prices.
MAINTENANCE CONCERNS
Close behind is the unexpected drawback of an old or unused swimming pool, which can wipe 19.6% (or £52,591) off a home’s value. Far from being a luxury asset, an outdated pool is often viewed as a liability due to maintenance concerns and the cost of removal or refurbishment.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
The presence of Japanese knotweed, an invasive plant known to damage building foundations, can reduce value by 15% (£40,248), while proximity to pylons, powerlines or telecoms masts can lower prices by 14% (£37,565).
Living in a flood-prone area comes with its own risks—not least the possibility of higher insurance premiums and limited resale demand—resulting in a value cut of 13.6% or £36,491.
NEIGHBOURHOOD MATTERS
It isn’t just what’s inside the boundary that matters. Nearby unkempt or derelict properties can drag down the value of well-maintained homes by 11% (£29,515), and bad or nuisance neighbours can cause a 10% loss (£26,832). Both issues reflect the importance of broader location quality when assessing resale value.
CURB APPEAL
Buyers are also deterred by practical shortcomings. A messy or overgrown garden can lead to a value reduction of 8.2% (£22,002), while a lack of parking shaves off 6.8% (£18,246).
Superstition, too, plays a role. Properties numbered 13 sell for around 6% less on average (£16,099), reflecting ongoing buyer wariness around perceived bad luck.
Lastly, location-specific concerns like living under a flight path or near a power station can cause reductions of 5.5% (£14,758) and 5% (£13,416) respectively.
PROPERTY VALUE
Steve Anderson (main picture), Yopa’s National Franchise Director, says: “While some of the money-losing issues we’ve discovered can be remedied before the house is placed on the market – some easily such as general untidiness and poor upkeep, others with more difficulty such as subsidence and knotweed – the rest are largely out of your control.”
And he adds: “It’s hard to avoid if you live under a flight path, have pylons located nearby, or, perhaps worst of all, bad neighbours. But it’s nonetheless true that this can severely impact your property value.”
