Village properties sought after as homeowners escape to the country

The number of city dwellers seeking to escape towards the country has more than doubled within the wake from the coronavirus outbreak, new data has revealed.

The number of city residents enquiring about village properties via property portal Rightmove rose by 126% in June and July in contrast to exactly the same period last year.

Here, Which? explores why villages are growing in popularity, and consider the benefits and drawbacks of swapping city life for that countryside.

Villages soar in popularity

Rightmove’s new report shows a shift in homebuyer priorities following COVID-19, with an increasing number of individuals that currently reside in cities looking further afield.

The property portal’s analysis found enquiries to auctions for village properties have risen by 126% year-on-year, compared with 68% for properties in towns.

Buyers living in Liverpool, Edinburgh, Birmingham and London are most tempted by village life, as shown within the table below.

Are homebuyers abandoning cities?

More than half of movers residing in Leicester, London, Manchester and Edinburgh are now searching for properties beyond their city, as shown within the chart below.

Rightmove states that the most known change in priorities has been in London, where 54% of buyers are looking to move away, in contrast to 45% this past year.

Where are buyers moving to?

While people are being tempted from the hubbub of city life, the majority are still looking for homes within commuting distance.

This implies that many movers are expecting to still need to travel to work in the future, albeit less often than usual.

Price isn’t the main factor in where people want. Average house prices in the most sought-after villages were greater than in neighbouring cities everywhere except Bristol and London.

Why are buyers tempted by villages?

Reports show movers are increasingly searching for larger homes with increased space to live and work, and following the lockdown more buyers have prioritised homes with gardens.

This is the reason why villages are extremely attractive: at a elementary, rural life provides a slower pace and more a community-driven atmosphere than the city.

Buyers will also be attracted by smaller schools for their children, lower crime rates, and the proximity of countryside and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Should you move away from the city?

Sounds dreamy, right? But there are some considerations you’ll need to make before making the move.

First of, living somewhere smaller may well be a culture shock. Village life will bring fewer amenities and places to socialise, and you’ll probably require a car as public transport options may be few and far between.

Then there’s the price premium. Typically the most popular villages are those that provide easy commutes into cities – so you may have to pay a pretty penny for your property and your rail fare, especially at any given time when competition is growing.

Case study: leaving London for village life in Cambridgeshire

Journalist Paul Davies and the family moved from London towards the village of Haslingfield in South Cambridgeshire this year.

The main motives for that move were getting a good school for his children, to become nearer to relatives and the commitment of a quieter lifestyle.

He told Which?: 'We were attracted through the idea of living somewhere a bit less busy and intense than London, and given we'd young kids i was in search of another environment.’

Haslingfield is located just six miles from Cambridge, meaning Paul was still in a position to travel to work in London.

He says: 'Having Cambridge nearby is extremely convenient as possible reside in a village but have the amenities from the city on our doorstep.’

Paul says the biggest trade-off of moving from London was the commute to operate, that takes him One hour Twenty minutes each way.

He believes that as remote working gets to be more common within the wake of COVID-19, village life will become much more appealing to buyers seeking to leave the town.