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Mail Online London property story

ended 07. May 2024

The Mail Online are seeking quick views from experts on new data showing fewer Londoners are searching for homes in the countryside, suggesting more of them are opting to stay in the capital as employers encourage staff back to the office. Are you seeing a trend of more people wanting to move back to London to live and work? Or perhaps that's you? If so, share your reasons why. Any thoughts, whizz them across ASAP as deadline is tight.



 

6 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Tracey Dixon
Owner/Broker at Pure Mortgage and Protection
I have observed more conversations with borrowers in the capital who are considering staying put and looking to renovate their homes. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues and how it impacts housing markets in both the capital and surrounding areas.
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Editor
Chris Barry
Director at Thomas Legal
We have an office in London and an office in the Cotswolds.

Post Covid saw a huge spike in demand for clients wishing to move from London to the Cotswolds and many had only visited once previously before making the move.

We are now seeing those same clients requesting our services to move back to London as they either don’t like the commute or find it too remote.

In addition we are finding younger people growing up in the countryside are still trying to buy their first home in the capital to be closer to big employers.
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Editor
Dariusz Karpowicz
Director at Albion Financial Advice
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a noticeable surge in remote working, which prompted many Londoners to seek homes in the countryside. However, as restrictions have lifted and companies have noticed the drawbacks of long-term remote working—such as impacts on team spirit and work attitudes—they're encouraging staff back to the office. This shift isn't entirely voluntary for many. Rather, it's becoming a necessity for those wanting to remain integrated in their professional environments. Consequently, we're starting to see a trend where more people are considering moving back to London to be closer to work and the social and professional opportunities that the capital offers.
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James Mason
Owner at Hawksman Real Estate
Here in Surrey the conveyor belt of London buyers moving that little bit further out shows no sign of slowing down. Most buyers seem to be 3 days in town and 2 from home. That work life balance is certainly still at the front of people's minds. What’s key is to have excellent work from home spaces still.
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Gary Bush
Financial Adviser at MortgageShop.com
The exodus from London property in 2024 started off well and then seems to have got bumped into touch by the upward swing on fixed rates again from March onwards. Our feeling is that people are still headed for the countryside but just not in such a rush, as caused by the Pandemic. We aren't seeing anyone looking to move back into the smoke and with the new rules on flexible working looking to be gearing up it will only be people moving down from the north and Scotland, as has always been the case, in search of more worthwhile employments that will take up residence in the capital along with the usual overseas entrants.
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Rob Gill
Managing Director at Altura Mortgage Finance
Demand for good quality family homes in London is soaring with homeowners realising they need or want to be in the office 2-3 days a week. Swapping zone 2 for zone 3 or 4 gives buyers more for their money while allowing them to stay in London.