This article was reviewed by the Palmako UK editorial team, with input from garden building specialists who understand UK regulations, timber construction, and outdoor living design.
Garden rooms have never been more popular or feasible than they are now, and with work-from-home trends continuing globally, homeowners want to know whether making an investment in a garden building will pay off.
The answer is rooted in a number of factors, and they differ from region to region. It involves the quality of the garden room, the impact on your outdoor space, and whether there is a demand for garden offices in your area.
Join us as we answer: ‘Will a garden office add value to my home?’
Quick Overview
According to market reports, a garden office can add between 5 - 15% value to your house; however, this depends heavily on where you live, the demand for garden offices in your area, and the quality of your garden room build. Local estate agents can provide you with insight into property trends that will affect resale value if you erect a dedicated office space.
Table of Contents
- Why are garden offices in demand?
- How do garden offices add value to a property?
- How much value can a garden office add to your property?
- Cost of a garden office versus property value increase
- How to research the local market and test the value of your case
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Why are garden offices in demand?
Palmako Lenna
A recent report by the Office for National Statistics revealed an interesting insight into the working habits of adults in the UK.
- Between January and March 2025, 28% of working adults in Great Britain were hybrid workers (workers who spend some time working from home and some going into the office).
- Workers with a degree or equivalent were 10% more likely to participate in hybrid work.
- The proportion of hybrid workers increased with higher income bands.
- Workers aged 30-49 years were more likely to do hybrid work.
The inferences we can draw from this report regarding the demand for garden offices is as follows:
- A greater demand for garden offices exists because 1 in 4 working adults is currently participating in hybrid work.
- The demographics of these hybrid workers make them more likely to purchase a home with a garden office or some form of dedicated workspace.
More insight and ideas: Garden office ideas for a ‘work-from-home’ professional
How do garden offices add value to a property?
Palmako Lea
A garden office offers a way to quickly and affordably create a dedicated workspace. A full extension to your home requires planning permission, can be expensive, and is likely to be a major disruption to your home life.
Most garden rooms do not require planning permission (each region in Great Britain has its own regulations, which can be found on the local council planning portal). For this reason, estate agents and potential buyers are increasingly treating a garden building as a value-adding improvement.
⚖️ For more information on planning permission in each region: What size log cabin can I have without planning permission
How much value can a garden office add to your property?
Palmako Lenna
One real estate site stated that ‘if you invest £7,763 in a garden room, it could potentially increase your home value up to £45,722.’ They further report that many homeowners vouch for garden rooms with minimum property value increases of 5% - beating the loft conversion as an investment.
When financial advice platform, Unbiased, looked into the topic, they found:
- If your home is worth £400,000, then you could see an increase of between £20,000 and £40,000.
- The value will increase more if you have a high-quality cabin with fitted extras such as electricity and internet.
- The size of your cabin in relation to your garden space is an important consideration. Some buyers may not want the home office to take up the entire garden.
While the potential exists for a 5-15% increase in property value, 5% is the conservative and more realistic figure, while 15% applies to premium builds in a high-demand market.
UK national price levels
Looking at the average national value of homes by region, the value increase can be determined, using the 5-15% range.
|
Region |
Average Value |
+5% value increase |
+15% value increase |
|
England (£306k) [1] |
£306,000 |
£15,300 |
£45,900 |
|
Wales (£219k) [1] |
£219,000 |
£10,950 |
£32,850 |
|
Scotland (£195k) [2] |
£195,000 |
£9,750 |
£29,250 |
|
N.Ireland (£191k) [3] |
£191,000 |
£9,550 |
£28,650 |
Cost of a garden office versus property value increase
Palmako Amanda
This is where the interplay between your initial investment into the garden office and the likely increase in property value finds its true balance. The point where functionality and comfort meet financial acuity.
Typical cost of garden offices (based on conservative estimates)
- Basic summer house (low-spec, uninsulated): £2,5000
- Mid-spec insulated garden room: £10,000 – £25,000
- High-end garden room (insulated, fitted with electricity and internet): £30,000 – £50,000+
Return on investment scenario
Suppose you spend £20,000 on a good garden office in England. If it gives a +5% value increase (≈ £15,300), the return on investment is less than the cost; if it gives a +15% value increase (≈ £45,900), the return is much higher.
🔎 Palmako In-Depth Analysis: How much does a garden office cost?
How to research the local market and test the value of your case
If you’ve reached this section, chances are you’re ready to crunch the numbers for yourself and find out what the situation is for your area. These tips will help you speed up the process:
- Search major listing portals for your area for properties with garden rooms or garden offices.
- Count how many listings show garden offices versus the total listings. This will give you an idea of the demand.
- Talk to your local estate agent. Ask them how many prospective buyers are asking for properties with garden offices.
- Do price comparisons. Find properties with and without garden offices and calculate the price difference between them.
Now let’s test the value of a hypothetical case. Imagine you have a 3-bedroom semi-detached home in England, priced at £306,000. You build a garden office for £22,000; insulated, double-glazed, wired with fibre broadband, decent finishes. At 5% increase in property value, you make a negative return of £6,700. At a 15% increase in property value, you gain £23,900. The numbers will speak for themselves.
Having said that, many homeowners feel that the lifestyle benefits associated with a garden office far outweigh any monetary returns. The ability to focus on work and separate home life and work life, without long commutes, is often very valuable to homeowners.
Do you have an existing outbuilding you’d like to convert into an office? Garden office interior ideas will help you achieve that goal.
Conclusion
The addition of a garden room to your property can yield substantial benefits for your entire family and for the value of your property. While estimates range from 5% to 15% increase in property value, they rely heavily on the quality of the build and the demand for garden offices in your area.
In areas popular with high-income professionals who enjoy hybrid working, properties with garden rooms offer strong ROI.
In the UK, property values can increase between £9,550 and £45,900 when a property with a garden office is marketed correctly. This provides plenty of encouragement for homeowners to consider building one.
Ready to build a high-quality garden office and maximise the return on your investment? With Palmako’s extensive range of Nordic spruce garden rooms, built for easy assembly and longevity, you can get the garden office you’ve always dreamed of.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will a garden office add value to my home?
This depends on the current demand in your area for extra space, and also the quality of the dedicated space. In neighbourhoods with little or no demand for garden offices, you are unlikely to get a return on your investment. In areas where high-income professionals either work from home or participate in hybrid work, you are more likely to get back what you invested.
2. Is a garden office a good investment?
A garden office can be a good investment if you are looking for extra floor space and want to work away from your main house. Investment in a garden building is twofold. The lifestyle benefits you will get from it, and the increase in value for your property. While you may benefit from a dedicated space for work, it is not guaranteed that your property value will increase. Ultimately, only you can decide what kind of investment matters more - lifestyle or monetary.
3. How much value does a good garden office add to my property?
A high-quality garden room fitted with electricity and an internet connection can add between 5 - 15% to the value of your home. While this is possible in certain areas, homeowners should ask a local estate agent whether prospective buyers are actively looking for garden offices. This will give you a good idea whether you’ll get your investment back if, or when, you sell your home.
4. How much value does a garden room add to remote working?
A garden room can significantly enhance remote working. It provides you with more floor space, gets you into a private space focused on work activities, and can be converted into an outdoor living space when your needs change. If your property is in an area where professionals require home offices, it can also add monetary value to your home.
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