ENERGY-efficient houses are holding their value despite a wider market downturn, according to an influential survey of UK estate agents.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said homes rated for retaining heat and saving on power were holding their value, according to 61 per cent of the respondents of a market survey in December.

The report also found property prices slid for a third consecutive month, confirming reports by mortgage lenders. RICS warned housing market is on a “downward trend” this year after rising mortgage costs and higher inflation ate into consumer budgets.

The trade body’s measure of near-term price expectations fell to a reading of minus 54 per cent last month from minus 46 per cent in November, growing pessimism among estate agents.

Simon Rubinsohn, RICS’ chief economist, said the figures shone a spotlight on the “emerging challenges in the housing market as new buyers grapple with more costly finance terms and uncertainty over the outlook for the economy”.

All regions across England are now seeing prices soften. East Anglia and the South East recorded the sharpest drops in sentiment last month. Agents in the North West of England, Scotland, Wales and London all experienced a particularly quiet month for activity.

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Despite data from property portal Rightmove last week which pointed to a more lively January, the RICS survey adds to concerns that the UK housing market is likely to tumble this year.

The Bank of England is expected to hike its key base rate again next month, following a string of nine rate rises which has bumped up mortgage costs at the quickest pace in three decades.

Official data on sales prices, which lag the RICS survey, showed on Wednesday (Jan 18) that house prices in November had already pulled back from their record level the month before.

Nationwide Building Society expects an 8 per cent to 10 per cent drop in house prices this year and has pencilled in a “worst case” scenario where properties lose 30 per cent of their value.

But as soaring energy bills add to the strain on household finances, RICS’ survey indicated that energy efficiency may be moving up the list of priorities for buyers.

Questioning estate agents on the subject for the first time, RICS said 40 per cent of its respondents were seeing greater interest from prospective buyers in homes that were more energy-efficient — though this was outweighed by the 60 per cent who were not seeing the same trend.

Sellers were trying to attach higher prices to highly rated homes, according to 41 per cent of respondents, while 61 per cent said highly energy-efficient homes were holding their value in the current market.

“It will be fascinating to see how important energy efficiency becomes to buyers over the next twelve months,” said Mairead Carroll, senior specialist in land and property standards at RICS.

Reform of the Energy Performance Certificate or EPC system, which currently causes confusion among buyers, was needed if homeowners were to have confidence in the efficiency of their properties, Carroll added.

The report also found:

• The lettings market continuing to tighten, with a balance of 28 per cent of respondents reporting higher tenant demand. That was the lowest reading since February 2021.

• New landlord instructions fell, suggesting fewer properties coming onto the rental market.

• Rents are likely to keep rising, RICS said. BLOOMBERG