Property website listing local air quality levels

Property finder SearchSmartly has become the ‘world’s first’ housing website to display local air quality ratings on every listing.

The move is part of a new partnership with addresspollution.org, a citizen-funded initiative by the Central Office of Public Interest (COPI) to tackle air pollution. 

Addresspollution.org provides air pollution levels by address using a system similar to the EPC energy ratings for homes and gives a free report that reveals the annual average levels of air pollution at an address and the damage long term exposure can do to human health.

It also makes it clear if the property exceeds the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual guidelines for NO2.

The Air Quality Rating (AQR) tool has been developed alongside scientists at King’s College London and reveals levels of NO2 accurate to 20sqm.

In normal conditions, over two million Londoners live with air pollution levels far exceeding the WHO guideline. 

Hesseltje S. van Goor, head of partnerships & COO at SearchSmartly, said: ‘We’re proud to provide an unparalleled degree of transparency to those looking for a home. It’s all part of our mission to help people search smarter.

‘But it’s also the right thing to do – everyone has a right to know what they’re breathing. We call on other property websites to integrate air quality ratings into their listings urgently as a matter of public health.’

Humphrey Milles, founder of The Central Office of Public Interest, added: ‘We launched Addresspollution.org to enable every Londoner to understand the quality of the air they’re breathing.

‘This partnership is a game-changer as it will help Londoners understand the issue even further, so they can make informed decisions for their own health and the health of their children. We hope this inspires others in the property industry to follow suit.’