If you’re a Londoner longing for outdoor space after months in lockdown, you’re not the only one.
But while many of us are just dreaming wistfully of gardens, some citydwellers are planning a proper move out to the countryside, according to a new report from Rightmove.
The property website says across June and July, the number of buyer inquiries from people living in ten major cities, such as London and Birmingham, has risen by 78% compared with the same period last year.
And contacts from city residents about buying a home in a village increased by 126%.
The number of inquiries from Liverpool residents looking to buy a home in a village has almost tripled (up by 275%) from last year, for example, while in Edinburgh, village inquiries are up 205% and in Birmingham they’re up by 186%.
Before you assume this is just down to price (after all, buying a home in a city tends to be extremely expensive), Rightmove says that this doesn’t actually seem to be the main motive for the moves, as average asking prices in the villages receiving queries are more expensive than in cities.
People in Birmingham, where homes cost £212,661 on average, for example, have been looking into moving to Marlbrook, where homes go for £367,854.
The villages where people from cities want to move:
- People living in Birmingham most want to move to Marlbrook, Worcestershire
- People in Bristol want to move to Banwell, Somerset
- People in Edinburgh want to move to West Linton, Peeblesshire
- People in Glasgow want to move to Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire
- People in Leicester want to move to Markfield, Leicestershire
- People in Liverpool want to move to Aughton, Lancashire
- People in London want to move to Iver, Buckinghamshire
- People in Manchester want to move to Charlesworth, Derbyshire
- People in Nottingham want to move to East Leake, Leicestershire
- People in Sheffield want to move to Whiston, South Yorkshire
And it’s not about job moves, either – the report says that many of the village locations city-based house hunters are interested in are within commuting distance to the city where they currently live, suggesting they’d like to keep their career in the city but have a quieter, slower way of life.
Rightmove’s property expert Miles Shipside said: ‘The lure of a new lifestyle, one that is quieter and has an abundance of beautiful countryside and more outdoor space, has led to more city dwellers choosing to become rural residents.
‘We saw a shift as early as April in more people living in cities inquiring about moving out of that city, and this trend has continued.
‘The most popular village moves are still within the same region the home hunters are currently in, as it’s likely they’ll keep their current job but may have the flexibility to commute less often and set up their working space at home.”
Mark Rimell, director in Strutt & Parker’s country house department, said: ‘A slower pace of life, outdoor space and tight-knit communities come hand in hand with village living – something many have come to appreciate in recent months and have enduring appeal.’
These stats come as a survey from Barclays Mortgages suggests that reasons for people wanting to relocate post-pandemic include wanting a bigger garden, being closer to essential services, and a stronger local community.
Life in lockdown may have made us sick of city life and overpriced rentals, with months spent cooped up indoors leaving us longing for gardens and a slower pace.
The rise of remote working, meanwhile, has many of us questioning why we’re paying more to live near the office when we can do the same role from home.
Dr Peter Brooks, chief behavioural scientist at Barclays said: ‘More outside space and the benefits of being closer to friends and family are high on the must-have list for many movers.
‘As working from home becomes more commonplace moving cross-country looks to be more achievable for many as there is less of a need to be within a short commute to the office.’
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/08/08/citydwellers-are-planning-move-countryside-post-lockdown-13102496/
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