What are people looking for in a new house? While school catchment areas were a top selling point, charging EVs has overtaken.

New research from the AA Driving School has revealed the changing environment for house buying.

Nearly a sixth (13%) of people polled say an EV charging post is an absolute ‘must have’. Other top priorities are a garage (38%), a driveway (58%) and a garden (60%). A good school catchment was only rated as an essential ‘must have’ by 11% of respondents.

Green is go

Other environmentally conscious attributes are also beginning to be demanded. For example, a ground source heat pump (12%) and solar panels (13%), were also on the list.

Older drivers are the most likely to make an EV charging post an absolute essential (15%). Meanwhile, those aged 24-to-35 were the least likely (7%).

For younger people, a ground source heat pump was the most popular ‘environmental’ attribute (23% vs 12% across all ages). However, at the same time this age group were the least likely to say solar panels were an absolute essential (6% compared to 13%).

Building the future

Mark Oakley, Managing Director of the AA Driving School, says the new building regulations are ” welcome news”.

All new homes will be required to have a charging post installed. For those buying or selling an older property, having one fitted is still clearly an important consideration.

“For many people, their house has to provide accommodation for their car as well as their family. Driveways and garages have always been important considerations, but now, as we head towards 2030 more and more purchasers will look at EV charging when considering a property.”