Rightmove Greener Homes 2026: Solar Home Demand Up 61%

Rightmove's Greener Homes Report 2026 finds that demand for homes with solar panels is up 61% since 2022, and that nearly two-thirds of UK home movers want their next property to generate most or all of its own energy. The report, based on a survey of 1,062 UK consumers in August 2026 plus Rightmove's own listings data, is one of the clearest signals yet that solar is becoming a selling point rather than just a running-cost saver. Here is what it says, and what it does and does not prove for homeowners with panels.

What the Rightmove Greener Homes report found

The headline figures from Rightmove's report are:

• Solar demand: mover demand for homes with solar panels is up 61% since 2022, and new listings mentioning solar panels are up 94%.
• Heat pumps: demand for homes with heat pumps is up 83% since 2022, and listings mentioning them are up 151%.
• EV chargers: new listings mentioning electric car chargers are up 79% since 2022. Rightmove gives no demand figure for chargers.
• Energy independence: nearly two-thirds of movers want their next home to generate most or all of its own energy, and only 8% would prefer to stay fully on the grid, according to coverage of the report originally published by The Independent.
• Energy prices: 53% say recent energy price rises have increased their interest in solar panels and battery storage. Rightmove reports this as one combined figure, so there is no battery-only number.

Rightmove also reports that homes with solar panels have an average asking price 12% above the national average. That is a gap between asking prices of different types of home, not a measured uplift from fitting panels, so treat it with care (more on that below).

Where solar is being advertised most

Listings mentioning solar panels have risen in every region since 2022, but the pace differs sharply. Rightmove's regional figures show the biggest rises in Scotland (+148%), the West Midlands (+129%) and Wales (+124%). The smallest are in the East Midlands (+78%) and Yorkshire and the Humber (+53%). Greater London sits at +94%, in line with the national figure. For how installations themselves are spread across the country, see our UK solar regional breakdown.

EPC ratings and bills: the other half of the story

The report ties green features to energy performance certificates. Rightmove says 49% of homes for sale are now rated EPC C or above, up from 40% five years ago, and 61% of rental homes are C or above, up from 52%. New builds are far ahead: 89% are rated A or B, compared with 6% of resale homes.

Rightmove's own Energy Bill Tracker (August 2026) puts the average annual energy bill at about £707 for an EPC A home and about £1,842 for a C, against £2,641 for a D and £3,724 for an E. The all-homes average is about £2,337. These are Rightmove modelled figures rather than Ofgem data, but they show why buyers are starting to read EPC bands as a running-cost signal.

What it means if you already have solar

Buyer interest is real, but price uplift is not guaranteed. The 12% asking-price gap reflects the kind of homes that tend to have solar (often newer, larger or better-insulated), so it should not be read as "panels add 12%". Our guide to whether solar panels add value to your home goes through the evidence, and selling a house with solar panels covers the practical side: paperwork, ownership, and leased systems.

Mention it in the listing. Rightmove's own data shows listings that mention solar are growing fast, which suggests buyers search for it. Keep your MCS certificate, installation date and generation history to hand, and make sure your EPC is up to date so the panels are reflected in the rating.

Heat pumps and chargers are part of the same pitch. If you are weighing a full electrification package, the report suggests buyers value the whole set. Our heat pump running costs guide shows what that adds to your bills, and best home EV charger covers the charger side.

Caveats on the data

Three points are worth keeping in mind. First, the survey covers 1,062 people and Rightmove does not state how it was run, so the "two-thirds" figure shows stated preference, not actual purchases. Second, "demand" and "mentions" are Rightmove platform measures comparing August 2022 with August 2026, so they track search behaviour on one portal. Third, the report comes from a property website with an interest in promoting energy-efficient listings, and Octopus Energy's CEO, quoted in coverage of it, said the findings reflect a shift towards home electrification, which is a company view rather than independent data.

The direction is still clear: more buyers are looking for homes that generate their own power, and solar is increasingly part of how a UK home is marketed.