Page 6 - David Burr Rooftops Winter/Spring 2021/2022

Capital gains but East
There is no doubt that there has been a seismic shift in the number of applicants looking to relocate from London to the country. The
43% increase in London based applicants registering to move out of the capital, we reported last year, has hardly stemmed.
The pandemic has turned so many lives upside down and, for some, the city which they had loved has suddenly felt dangerous and claustrophobic. It has brought into sharp focus their living arrangements, such as lack of gardens and overcrowding, prompting them to reassess their priorities during Lockdown and now want, or need to live in a different space, or location.
Whilst Covid -19 has affected businesses, livelihoods, and family life, there have undoubtedly been moments
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when taking a break from the usual hectic schedules has been beneficial – spending time recharging the batteries and taking stock of the important things in our lives.
Relocating out of big towns or cities and the long-held notion of ‘moving to the country’ has been given a rather powerful nudge. Leaving behind a frantic, fast-paced lifestyle frees up time to prioritise the things one really cares about. As someone who recently moved out said “walking the dog on the beach at sunrise, now that makes me smile”.
There has also been a noticeable increase in people wanting to return to where they grew up, to be nearer to family.
Demand in many areas is still exceeding supply and is split evenly between those looking for a principal home and a bolthole, although there has been a shift. In the past, those who had a principal home in London and a smaller weekend property in the country, are now wanting the reverse.
This demand, originally buoyed by the stamp duty holiday, is across the price range but is more apparent in the middle to higher of the market reflecting the need for larger properties and space.
The popularity of Suffolk and Essex is not surprising. Historically wealthy, thanks to its wool trade, it is full of pretty villages with many fine houses and cottages. Its gently rolling landscape, captured by many artists,
Bob Bickersteth
The view from our London office