GARDENS IN DEMAND
Lockdown and change to homeworking fuels interest in garden ownership
Gardens are now topping lists of desirable 'musthaves' when people are looking for new homes, new research suggests.
A survey by national online estate agent Rightmove has found searches for homes with gardens on their website is up 84 per cent for renters and 42 per cent for buyers in May compared to the same month last year. The trend is likely to continue as half of renters (49 per cent) and more than a third of buyers
(39 per cent) say lockdown has impacted what they’re looking for in their next home.
The study indicates a transition towards more frequent homeworking, which could lead to a shift in what people prioritise in their search for a home. Good internet and a spare room are now becoming more important, with transport links less important. The biggest change for both groups is wanting a bigger garden or access to a garden. Renters looking for a garden has led to studio flats being replaced with two bed houses as the most sought-after property type. Almost a third of buyers (30 per cent) say they also want to live in a rural area.
“During lockdown people have been re-evaluating what their 'must-haves' are, and both buyers and renters are craving a home with its own outside space rather than a flat,” said Rightmove housing market analyst Miles Shipside.
“Usually home-movers tell us kitchen photographs are the most important when looking at a property advert, but now agents should consider giving greater prominence to pictures of gardens and outdoor spaces.
"To add to the photogenic garden appeal, a quick lick of paint on a fence, or a clear out of a shed can make all the difference when selling a lifestyle to a would-be buyer or tenant. Communal gardens sometimes get left out of rental listings, but they should definitely be including them now, too.”
The survey used both site data and a new survey of over 4,000 home-movers.