Why garden size is now the top priority for UK homebuyers

A new survey from Hayter, the heritage petrol and battery mowers manufacturer, has found that garden size has become the most influential factor for UK homeowners when moving house.

The survey of 1000 respondents highlights a clear shift in buyer priorities, with outdoor space now outweighing traditional considerations, including internal living space, transport links and even modern bathrooms.

The survey wanted to explore the nation’s evolving relationship with gardens, and the findings show that well-maintained, sizeable outdoor spaces are increasingly shaping perceptions of property value. This reinforces the growing role gardens play in influencing buyer behaviour across the UK housing market.

Key survey findings

Here are some of the key survey findings:

80% say the garden is extremely important when choosing a new home.
75% say the size of the garden is the most important factor in moving home.
76% would not buy their dream home if the garden was small or non-existent.
Only 5% wouldn’t pay more for a home with a larger garden.

One of the most striking findings was that 75.24% of all participants said that the size of the garden and outdoor spaces was the most important factor when purchasing a new property. The size of the living space came in second (46.39%), number of bedrooms third (32.08%) and outdoor privacy fourth (30.36%).

The importance of the school catchment area (3.66%), emphasis on a modern bathroom (3.98%) and transport links (8.93%) took the bottom three places – with energy efficiency just missing the bottom three at 12.7%.

Over 79% of people say a garden is a must

These findings reflect the broader consensus among 1,000 respondents across the UK, including Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland – of whom 79.44% said having a garden was a must when choosing an outdoor space. In fact, this was such a priority to UK homebuyers, that only 5.8% of respondents would consider purchasing a property with a small or non-existent garden, even if all other aspects of the home were perfect.

For those seeking a larger garden, the most common reason was to relax and socialise with others (82.45%), closely followed by growing plants (74.60%), hosting parties (59.31%) and growing veg (41.98%).

Gardens sway buyers to spend more on a property

This new data reveals the importance that gardens are continuing to have in swaying buyers to spend more on properties, as well as reminding evaluators not to underestimate the value a well-curated garden can add to a home. Indeed, 76% claim a garden increases their perception of a home’s value and 40.8% would pay significantly more for the privilege of a larger garden.

Outdoors space is now a deciding factor for house buyers

These new findings prove that outdoor space is no longer a ‘nice to have’ for buyers – it’s the deciding factor.

A good-sized, well-maintained garden can significantly influence both perception and price when buying a property. As these findings show, homeowners increasingly see their garden as an extension of their living space.

As people continue to prioritise wellbeing, relaxation and socialising at home, the role of the garden in the property market is only set to grow.