Demand for homes with private outdoor space increased significantly during the pandemic as buyers reassessed their property priorities.
A survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors found that, in August 2020, 83% of surveyors expected demand for homes with gardens to increase over the following two years. More than two-thirds also anticipated greater demand for properties offering private outdoor space rather than shared communal areas.
The findings reflected the wider changes taking place across the housing market as remote working became more common and buyers placed greater importance on space, gardens and lifestyle flexibility.
The survey also pointed to a strong recovery in property market activity across much of the UK. House price expectations improved considerably following the reopening of the market, with surveyors reporting increased demand and rising values in many regions.
London was the notable exception, with the capital seeing a more subdued performance during the period. This was partly attributed to buyers looking beyond central locations as flexible and remote working reduced the need to live close to offices.
The shift highlighted how the pandemic was influencing both where people wanted to live and the type of property they were looking to buy. Homes offering additional internal space, private gardens and access to greener surroundings became increasingly attractive as buyers adapted to new ways of living and working.
