Why first-time buyers are thinking green

Forget the First-Time Buyer (FTB) stereotype. The English Housing Survey 2024/25, puts the average FTB age at 34 - 35 in London. In the mid-1990s it was 29. Back then, nearly one in four buyers was under 25. Today it is fewer than one in sixteen.

These are people who have spent a decade or more renting. They have lived through energy crises, rising bills and cold homes. They are not rushing, they're choosing carefully. And while affordability and location remain the biggest factors, green features are becoming the tie-breaker when two homes are otherwise comparable.

Today’s first-time buyers are Millennials and older Gen Z.  And the data on how these generations feel about the environment is striking.

YouGov found in 2024 that 70% of Gen Z and 63% of Millennials believe climate change is the biggest threat to civilisation. Cardiff University research found they experience more climate anxiety than older groups. 

According to Deloitte, about 15% of Gen Zs and Millennials have changed jobs directly due to environmental concerns, and up to 40% have turned down roles because an employer's environmental ethics did not match their own. That same values-driven thinking is now shaping where and what they buy.

But it's not just idealism. It’s practical. These are buyers who have paid high bills in draughty rented homes and do not want to repeat the experience when they finally own.

The UK is committed to reaching net zero by 2050. Homes cause around 13–16% of national greenhouse gas emissions, and just under two-thirds of UK homes are currently rated EPC D or below.

Progress is being made. The Climate Change Committee's 2026 Progress Report confirms the UK is the first major economy to halve its emissions since 1990, driven by renewables and the coal phase-out. This covers territorial emissions (those produced within the UK); the wider footprint, including imported goods, has fallen more slowly as some manufacturing has moved overseas.

Homes are next. The Government's Warm Homes Plan commits £15 billion to upgrade five million homes by 2030, with £7,500 heat pump grants through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. From 2027, every new home in England and Wales must have low-carbon heating, so more properties will be cheaper to run and future-proof.

The green premium is real. Santander research covering more than 2,300 buyers found people paying an average 9.4% more for retrofitted homes. Estate agents report 15.5% higher prices for high energy-efficiency properties on average, with over a third of agents seeing premiums above 20% in their area.

A lower-rated home might look cheaper today. But factor in higher running costs, a future retrofit bill, and a harder resale, and the maths often tells a different story.

When you instruct a conveyancer, one of the first things they'll confirm is that the property has a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), the A to G rating of how energy-efficient a home is, covering things like insulation and heating, with an estimate of running costs. A home generally needs a valid one to be sold.

But the EPC is only the headline number. Several other environmental checks happen before exchange.

The environmental search covers flood risk, ground contamination, radon, and nearby energy infrastructure. The drainage search confirms sewer connections and whether any public drains cross the land (important if you are planning an extension). The local authority search picks up contaminated land designations, tree preservation orders and relevant planning restrictions.

If anything is flagged, your conveyancer explains what it means and whether you need a specialist to look further. A flag is not a reason to panic. It is a reason to ask the right questions before you commit.

One thing to remember: conveyancers check the legal position. They do not inspect the building. For the physical condition, insulation, boiler, structure, damp, you may need a surveyor. The two work together.

• What is the EPC rating and when was it last checked? They are valid for ten years; an old one on an old house may not reflect reality.
• What came back on the environmental search? Ask your conveyancer to talk you through any flags.
• Is the property in a radon-affected area? If so, were protection measures built in?
• Are there any planning or listed building restrictions on energy improvements? Solar panels and external insulation are sometimes limited.

We order environmental searches early and explain the results in plain English. If something needs your attention, we tell you what it means, not just that it exists.

First-time buyers are making one of the biggest decisions of their lives, usually after years of thinking about it. We want the legal side to feel as clear and in control as the rest of the process.

Talk to us early. It makes everything that follows easier.

This article is general information for buyers in England and Wales. It is not legal advice for your specific purchase.