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UK: Solar a "deal sealer" for home buyers

New figures from British bank ING Direct has shown that solar is the most important "non essential" factor in encouraging a prospective buyer to agree to purchasing a house. 38% of respondents to the ING survey of over 1000 people, responded that solar panels were the most important non-essential factor, which would encourage them to buy a property.

British householders have reported that solar is the number one "non essential" factor is prompting prospective house buyers to sign "on the dotted line."

Flickr/ell brown

While tough economic conditions have made the U.K. housing market more difficult for sellers than in years past, a new survey has shown that solar panels are the most important factor in encouraging prospective home buyers to buy a house. Other factors were weekly rubbish collections (32%), satellite TV connection (32%), and having a greenhouse (25%).

As of mid-August, the Department of Energy and Climate Change figures have indicated that over 366,000 homes now have solar panels installed on them. This is an increase of 349% on figures for the same time last year.

In commenting on the results, ING Direct’s Richard Doe said, "In today’s housing market you often have to compete against your neighbors to make that sale. Price is obviously king but knowing and promoting ‘deal sealers’ can give you that vital competitive edge."

ING Direct claim that the respondents to the survey were representative of the British population.