"It’s clear that climate resilience is now a defining factor in property decisions, and the industry must be ready to respond"
- Chris Loaring - Landmark Information Group
Environmental risks are increasingly shaping the UK property market, with new data showing that buyers and professionals alike are placing climate change high on the agenda.
Landmark Information Group’s latest survey of 150 senior property professionals, including estate agents, mortgage lenders, and conveyancers, found that 99% report their clients are worried about climate change when buying a property. This represents a sharp rise from 72% in 2024.
For the first time, concerns about heat stress (62%) and energy performance (65%) have overtaken flooding (51%) as buyers’ leading worries. The shift highlights a move towards risks that affect all homes, not just those in flood-prone areas.
The trend follows a year identified as the UK’s fourth warmest since records began in 1884. Three of the last five years rank among the warmest on record, underscoring how extreme weather is influencing buying priorities and professional advice.
The financial implications are already apparent. Conveyancers expressed particular concern about negative future climate risk reports, with potential consequences including:
38% citing stalled transactions when buyers change their minds
24% fearing mortgage refusals
20% reporting difficulties in securing insurance cover
The research also reveals growing support for earlier disclosure of climate risk. Over half of respondents (51%) believe climate information should be shared upfront by the estate agent, compared with 45% in 2024.
Despite widespread concern, professionals remain divided over who should ultimately advise buyers. Many respondents suggested environmental specialists should lead, though estate agents, conveyancers, and surveyors were also seen as having important roles.
Chris Loaring, group sustainability director at Landmark Information Group, commented: “Our latest research shows climate change has moved firmly into the mainstream of homebuying concerns. An overwhelming 99% of property professionals report their clients are worried about its impact - a jump of 27 percentage points in just a year."
"This shift is no longer hypothetical; we’re seeing real consequences in the market, from stalled transactions to challenges securing mortgages or insurance. Conveyancers, who are closest to the purchase process, are detecting the highest levels of concern, with two-thirds of their clients highly engaged on the issue. It’s clear that climate resilience is now a defining factor in property decisions, and the industry must be ready to respond.”
The report concludes that stronger collaboration across the property industry will be essential to meet rising expectations for climate resilience and to avoid lagging behind buyers’ priorities.
