French buyers rethinking housing choices after heatwaves
AFTER multiple severe heatwaves in a single summer, French residents are increasingly factoring high temperatures into their home hunts, realtors say, bumping up features such as shutters, air conditioning and indirect sunlight on their priority lists.
French residents are reevaluating their housing choices due to multiple severe heatwaves in a single summer, according to realtors. High temperatures have become a priority for buyers, with features like shutters, air conditioning, and indirect sunlight becoming increasingly important. In Paris, apartments directly under Haussmann-era buildings with zinc-covered roofs have turned into "virtual ovens" during heatwaves.
Estate agent Joseph Denke has noticed a shift in buyers' priorities, with south-facing windows and lack of ventilation becoming negative points. Young buyers like 30-year-old Camille Couturier are thinking 10 to 15 years ahead and are concerned about living comfortably or having to flee due to excessive heat. A study by Pouget Consultants and IGNES found that one in two homes in France is effectively a heat trap.
Eight out of 10 users of classified ads platform Leboncoin surveyed in June reported discomfort during extreme heat, with a third considering moving if heatwaves become more intense. Experts warn that climate change will lead to hotter summers in France. Leboncoin's marketing director Sophie Bourg states that heatwaves are now a structural factor in housing choices in France, with coolness and summer comfort becoming property criteria.
Buyers are asking practical questions about temperatures, ventilation, and sleep quality during heatwaves. Even traditionally disdained air conditioning is becoming a selling point for many buyers, especially if already installed. The impact of recent heatwaves on where people choose to live is not yet evident, but it is clear that climate change is influencing the property market, making it difficult for buyers to plan ahead for 10 to 20 years of a mortgage.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
