Smoking indoors can knock as much as 10% off a home's value, potentially costing sellers up to £27,190, according to experts at Northerner and The Property Buying Company. With the average UK property valued at £271,900, this common habit could significantly reduce the price buyers are willing to pay.
How smoking damages your home
The damage caused by smoking indoors includes burn marks, stains on walls and ceilings, and a lingering smell that can be difficult to remove. These effects can build up over time, making a property less appealing to potential buyers.
Dr Marina Murphy, senior director of scientific affairs at Northerner, explained: "Fine smoke particles can build up over time, settling into surfaces, fabrics and materials around the home. While burn marks and lingering smells might be the most noticeable signs, smoking indoors can also affect how a property looks, feels and is perceived by potential buyers."
Buyers factor in the cost of repairs
Karl McArdle, co-founder of The Property Buying Company, said: "If someone thinks they'll need to give a whole house a fresh new look, rip out the carpets, and scrub all the stink out, they'll factor that in when they make an offer."
McArdle noted that the impact on price depends on the severity of the damage. "In places where the smoke damage is pretty light, the impact on price is usually minimal. But where people have been smoking indoors, day in day out, for years on end, you'll often see prices knocked back by as much as 5-10%, especially if the place needs a major makeover before it can be lived in or sold again," he said.
Health risks extend beyond the visible signs
Action on Smoking and Health has warned that 80% of cigarette smoke is invisible. It lingers in the air long after the cigarette is stubbed out, clinging to furniture, walls, and even soft toys. This means families are still breathing in harmful chemicals long after the smoke seems to disappear.
Second-hand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including at least 50 that cause cancer. Breathing in this smoke increases the risk of serious illnesses for everyone, especially children and pets who have smaller lungs and developing bodies.
For homeowners who smoke indoors, the financial impact is clear: a potential loss of up to £27,190 on the average UK property, plus the health risks to family members and pets. Addressing smoke damage before selling could help mitigate these losses.
