Falling house prices and persistently high mortgage rates are prompting more UK families to reconsider moving altogether, with many instead looking at ways to unlock additional space within their existing homes.
Rightmove data shows that house prices recorded their steepest November decline in more than ten years. The average asking price dropped by 1.8% in a single month, and over a third of sellers have reduced their asking prices in response.
In this climate, a growing number of homeowners are looking closer to home for solutions, with garage conversions emerging as one of the most popular routes to gaining extra space.
Pro Assist Property Services, which specialises in garage conversions, reports a marked increase in enquiries from homeowners keen to repurpose their garages into practical living areas.
“Most people don’t even use their garages for parking anymore,” said Asa Herbert of Pro Assist Property Services. “Now, that space is being turned into something useful, a home office, a gym, or an extra bedroom.”
Pro Assist puts the starting cost of a garage conversion at £10,000, with many projects wrapping up within a fortnight.
The company also notes that a conversion carried out to a high standard can add as much as 10% to a home’s value, particularly in locations where off-street parking is not a priority for buyers. The appetite for home conversions first grew during the pandemic years, when working from home became widespread, but the nature of what people want from their converted spaces has evolved since then.
“Now, people want extra bedrooms, annexes, or a quiet space for relatives,” said Herbert. “A garage conversion is one of the easiest ways to get that room without moving, and in most cases, you don’t even need planning permission.”
That said, professionals in the field caution against cutting corners. Garages are not built with habitation in mind, and inadequate insulation or ventilation can result in damp and cold becoming real issues. “A proper survey and professional contractor make all the difference,” Herbert added.