THE WAY WE LIVE NOW (AND HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME WORK FOR YOU)

Around 5.6m people worked from home last year, and with that set to continue, many of us are looking to change how we live. Harriet Meyer answers your questions about what the new normal means for you and your home…

Whether you’re moving or improving, our property special can help

Whether you are looking for a fresh start, a better work/life balance or just making what’s already good better, the pandemic has made us all take a long, hard look at where we live.

Staring at the same four walls for months on end has fuelled a post-lockdown boom in home improvements; two in five UK homeowners have plans to renovate or extend. For those keen to move, more living space and larger gardens top the ‘must have’ list. And with the trend for flexible working, it’s unsurprising that around two fifths of house-hunters also want office space.

‘While economic shocks usually dent market activity, the pandemic has had a very different effect, with activity surging and house prices accelerating,’ says Robert Gardner, chief economist at Nationwide. ‘We’re now seeing a “race for space” as people re-evaluate what they want, with changes such as working from home expected to persist.’

The easing of restrictions and extension of the stamp duty holiday stimulated the market; according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), property prices rose by 8.9% in the year to April, down from 9.9% in March, which saw the biggest rise since 2007. The average house price has risen by £22,000 over the past year, according to Halifax.

The question is: will it last? Savills predicts that UK property values will rise by 21.1% over the next five years. Time to get planning?