ULEZ ‘tax assault’ is beginning to harm London home costs

The newest analysis by London lettings and property agent, Benham and Reeves, reveals that ULEZ is beginning to harm home costs as designated low-emissions zones fail to match wider London development.

Benham and Reeves has analysed home value information in London boroughs that fell inside the ULEZ boundary following phases 1 and a couple of of the scheme’s rollout, how this in comparison with the efficiency of the London market and what it might imply for these boroughs as a result of be impacted with the part 3 roll out.

The analysis exhibits that the preliminary ULEZ pilot scheme which launched in April 2019 and lined the present Congestion Cost zone, had little impression on home costs.

Whereas it did impression seven boroughs, the zone solely marginally crept into six of them whereas totally engulfing simply the Metropolis of London.

Consequently, within the 12 months that adopted, home costs elevated by 5.9% in ULEZ-impacted boroughs versus 1.4% development throughout London as entire.

This value resilience will be attributed to the truth that owners had been already accustomed to the Congestion Cost, to not point out the truth that private automotive utilization is much less prevalent as a result of dominance of public transport on this most central of boroughs.

Nonetheless, the info exhibits that the second part of ULEZ might have had a extra unfavorable impression on home costs. The impacted boroughs skilled a median value development of 5.3% over the 12 months following October 2021 rollout, which this time fell brief by -0.5% in comparison with the broader London efficiency of 5.7%.

In reality, 9 of the 16 boroughs that fell inside part 2 of the ULEZ growth didn’t outperform the speed of home value development seen throughout the broader London market over the 12 months that adopted.

Westminster was the worst hit borough, experiencing a -5% value drop between October 2021 and October 2022, whereas Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham additionally skilled unfavorable development of -4.1% and -1.1% respectively.

Different boroughs to lag behind the broader London common embrace Wandsworth (3.3%), Camden (3.3%), Islington (3.3%), Lambeth (3.5%), Haringey (3.9%), and Lewisham (5.2%).

This historic information means that, with the total ULEZ growth due in August, a subdued London market might see an extra cool within the charge of home value development over the 12 months that follows as London residing turns into that little bit dearer due to Sadiq Khan.

Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr stated, “Many Londoners depend on their automobiles to carry down jobs and care for his or her households, and one more tax assault from Sadiq Khan will hit them financially at a time when tens of millions are already scuffling with the excessive price of residing.

“The figures present that ULEZ impacted boroughs have trailed the broader London market by round half a % in relation to home value development within the 12 months following the ULEZ rollout, which accounts to properly over £2,000 on the common London residence.

“When the scheme launches throughout the whole lot of the capital, this might see London owners out of pocket by 1000’s of kilos and people in probably the most peripheral boroughs might be hit far more durable.

“So not solely do they face the price of both paying this newest tax seize or changing their automotive, however their property’s worth is also negatively impacted.”