The latest research shows that many people’s house-hunting requirements have shifted – and living in the countryside is up there at the top of the wish list!

Data from the online property portal Rightmove, shows that 51% of Londoners who are searching for a property are now looking outside the Capital.

Rightmove research shows that almost one third of buyers (30%) say the Coronavirus lockdowns have made them reassess their search criteria and they now want to live in a more peaceful, rural area with access to green open spaces. This trend is also evident in renters (13%) and first-time buyers (19%) saying they are now looking to move to the countryside.

The shift to home working has increased demand for properties in the home counties from London buyers.

Movement restrictions introduced by the Government forced thousands of people and businesses to adapt and make a success of working from home. As time has gone on many office based workers have proven they can be just as productive (in a lot of cases MORE productive) whilst working from home.

76% of people surveyed by Rightmove say they would now like to continue to work from home in some capacity.

Compared to the rest of the country, the shift to home working has had a greater impact in London, where people and bosses realise they can realistically now move to the home counties and continue to work from home without the bind of a long commute, or having to pay for a big expensive central London office.

We have an influx of London buyers looking for properties in Surrey

Since the property market reopened in May 2020, it has been incredibly busy with interest from London buyers increasing exponentially.

We’ve seen a 45% increase in buyers from London visiting our website – proof that there is high demand from people looking to move outside of London to the Surrey countryside.

This shift in property requirements is certainly being seen in our branches.

“40% of our sales during the lockdown period have been to buyers from London.”

Garry Collins, Manager of our Guildford branch comments;

“Half of those buyers managed to leave their London homes to stay with family before the lockdown so they could enjoy the benefits of the beautiful Surrey countryside that is on our doorstep.

We expect to see this trend continue as buyers seem to have redefined what is important to people – outside space whether the countryside or a decent garden has shot up the ‘must have’ list for most buyers.”

How do we attract so many London buyers?

Occupying a prominent position in St James’s Place, between Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square, The London Office is a well-known destination for those looking to move out of the Capital and their prominent street-level offices, with large window displays, are ideally located to place properties in front of passing national and international buyers.

The London Office is our marketing link to the Capital, providing enquiries from committed London and international buyers.

Using the experience of qualified personnel, the team is able to give objective advice on regions, properties, schools and travel times to visitors now considering a move.

If you are thinking of moving out of London to the Surrey countryside, we can help.

Find Out More

Ready to move? So are we.

If you are thinking of moving Book An Appointment with us and we can give you an up-to-date market appraisal of your home and an indication of the likely demand for your property.

With the migration out of London alongside our established database of local, international and national buyers, we’ll help you get the best possible price for your home. This service is free and without obligation.

Book An Appointment