Can tennis courts add value to your home?

Sabine Lisicki serves a smash at Wimbledon - but can a tennis court net you a tidy sum?

Wimbledon is here once again and the news for those looking to boost the sales price for their home, there is good news: tennis courts can add value to your home, according to Savills.

"There is no doubt about it, Wimbledon is a global name and certainly has international appeal," Clive Moon, head of the estate agent's Wimbledon office, writes on their website. But before homeowners in the famous SW19 postcode begin to get excited, he notes that "being close to the All England Club doesn’t tend to add value to a property". Rather, the excellent local schools and quality of life are the factors in helping sellers fetch a strong asking price.

One way that the lifestyle of a home can be boosted is, of course, adding a tennis court. Indeed, building a tennis court is said to increase a property's value by £75,000 upwards. Constructions costs range from £10,000 to £25,000, according to some providers, which leaves a clean £50,000 profit to be made. Is it really that simple, though?

There are difficult shots to tackle. Indeed, tennis courts on paddock land require a formal change of land use, Planning Consultant Mark Jarman warns Premier Property Search.

"If the property happens to be a listed building then the local Council’s Planning Officer will need to be convinced that a court within the garden will not have an adverse impact on the setting of the listed building," he adds.

There is also the matter of land for the court. You will need almost an acre to squeeze it into your estate, which leaves many regular homeowners far outside of the tramlines. Indeed, while houses with tennis courts tend to sell for £200,000 or more, it is worth remembering that these will be larger estates to begin with, which will already carry a substantial price tag.

Nonetheless, for those who can secure permission and have the room, a tennis court can serve a home with strong potential returns.

"Properties with their own tennis courts can be a good investment", notes Ben Pridden, Head of Savills' York office.

"If you have a property with a swimming pool, orchard, stables and land then a tennis court completes the package. They are very low maintenance and if it is proportionate to the property then it can definitely add value." 

The ball, as they say, is in your court.

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