x
By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies to enhance your experience.

TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Sharp rise in demand for rental homes with garden space

Demand for rental homes with outdoor space has surged in recent weeks as a result of the existing coronavirus lockdown, according to Rightmove. 

As the weather starts to improve, there is growing momentum for renting homes with a garden. 

Over the past week Rightmove searches by renters looking for a garden are almost double compared to the first week of lockdown. Over the longer-term they are now 16% higher compared to the average seen in January and February, and are also up 26% on the same week last year.

Advertisement

 Although overall search activity in the rental market is expectedly still lower than usual, the property website reports that it is starting to recover and is now running at around 20% down on normal levels. 

Total stock available to rent is up 2.6% in the second two weeks of lockdown compared to the first two weeks, as some agents re-list properties they have let out previously in order to line up new tenants for when lockdown ends. 

During the lockdown some renters are considering moving to places with a scenic river or a coastal town, based on the top ten biggest increases in searches comparing the first two weeks of lockdown with the second two weeks.

Southsea tops the list of the biggest rise in searches during the two time periods, followed by Cambridge and Worthing. Others in the top ten include Marlow, Bognor Regis, Dover, Southend and Margate.

Rightmove’s commercial director and housing market analyst, Miles Shipside, said: “Having a garden is often a rarity for many rental properties in larger cities, and so it may be that during lockdown people are rethinking their needs and location and are searching for some outdoor space and tranquillity. That allure may draw them further away from where they have habitually lived and travelled to work from, as can be seen by some of the coastal locations that have seen the largest search increases. 

“Interestingly we’ve not yet seen this trend mirrored by those looking to buy a home, perhaps as renting is usually a much quicker process and so renters are thinking sooner about what changes they want for their next place.

“Agents report they’re helping their landlords line up new tenants ready to physically view properties when restrictions are lifted and we’re also seeing a lower but steady level of tenant referencing taking place. 

“Those properties with a garden are likely to be able to fill any landlord voids more quickly post lockdown. Understandably most of the rental market has hit the pause button right now except where there are essential moves taking place, and so we haven’t seen an indication of price movements yet. If there is a spike in demand that exceeds supply when lockdown ends this may underpin rental prices.”

Want to comment on this story? If so...if any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on any basis, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.

  • icon

  • icon

    Yes, complete hogwash indeed! The headline "Sharp Rise in Demand for ….. " is just wrong. It should read "Moderate Rise in Internet Searches for …..). But this is less sensational (was it sensational at all?) and hardly interesting or significant. A complete non-story.

icon

Please login to comment

MovePal MovePal MovePal
sign up