Cost of energy tops list of concerns for housebuyers, survey reveals

Three in four respondents to the survey say they are more inclined to pay close attention to a Building Energy Rating — a measure of how cost-effective it is to heat a building — when considering the suitability of a house purchase. File picture: iStock

Energy costs are now the primary concern of house buyers, as the public reels from 18 months of soaring utility bills, according to a new survey of house hunters.

A clear majority of respondents also stressed they plan to power their homes using renewable energy sources such as solar panels.