The British Valuation Office Agency has decided to move certain houses close to wind farms to a lower tax band. This decision represents the first official recognition that turbines may lower the property prices in their vicinity. Experts have warned before the harmful influence of wind farms on property prices for some time. According to local agents, a value of one house several hundred meters distant from the Fullabrook wind farm in Devon has dropped 25%. Property owners are sure, that the value of their property was lowered by persistent whistling noise of wind turbines and visual intrusion including flickering shadow when the sun is directly behind the blades. VOA agency accepted their arguments and agreed to move the property from the tax band F to E, which saved the owner approximately ₤400 a year. At least three other assets were moved to the lower band, different factors have, however, been considered in each case.
A report from 2007 concluded that there is no clear relationship between the property price and proximity of the wind farm. The study focused on two sales of properties close to wind farms in Cornwall. The study found out that similar houses are less expensive 1,6 km from the wind farm then 6,5 km. According to the study, other factors influenced the price differences. The houses were previously owned by the British Department of Defense, and there was lower interest in them.
In 2008, however, certain Jane Davis obtained a discount of property tax because her house was standing only about 500 meters from a wind farm. Mrs. Davis had to finally move to a rented house, because the blade noise was very strong.
-tk-