Covid-19 has not really changed people’s views on property, according to Barratt Homes and its research partner GoodMore Global Ltd.
Their research found only 12 per cent of respondents want to move further away from work and 19 per cent want to move closer to family. One third (33 per cent) envisage they will be working from home more.
Many people who are working from home are choosing to work in different rooms, but the research shows no demand for separate kitchens and living areas. The preference for open-plan kitchens rose slightly from 35 per cent to 36 per cent.
Similarly, when homeowners were asked about their favourite rooms pre and during Covid, very little change has occurred, except a micro-shift between those who prefer their bedroom during Covid to the living room and vice-versa.
Only 17 per cent of the population are looking to move in the next two years and within this group, 36 per cent say they want to live close to family and 27 per cent want to move further away from work.
People in the 25-39 year old age group are more likely to move (45 per cent), which is nearly double other age groups. For 18-24 year olds, 18 per cent say they are highly/quite likely to move as did 24 per cent of people aged 40-54.
Barratt West London sales director Ed McCoy comments: “It’s very easy to look at the news and see a huge attitudinal shift in where we want to live and work. Covid-19 has had a dramatic impact on our lives, but the research shows it is not dramatically changing behaviours and attitudes around where we live.
“There are a group of people that may have already been on the tipping point, with Covid shifting attitudes, but for the most part there is not a tidal move away from cities, nor the start of off-grid living.
“Our research shows that almost a third of people (29 per cent) who are likely to move in the next two years still want to live in a city suburb, or a town suburb (32 per cent). There are impacts in our city centres, areas like central London, but what we have seen is the rise of the local high street and the regions.”
