Largest Number of Londoners leaving the Capital for Eight Years

HAMPTONS International’s latest research, based on Countrywide data, shows that the number of Londoner’s moving out of the capital, buying homes in other parts of the country surged in 2015.

In 2015 Londoners bought 63,000 homes outside of the capital spending an average of £375,000.

This adds up to a total of £24 billion – the highest number since 2007, when 100,000 homes were bought, totalling £32 billion.

The majority of Londoners moving out of the capital relocated to other areas in the South of England.

88 per cent of those leaving London bought in the South buying a total of 53,000 homes, up from 33,500 in 2014.

Johnny Morris, Head of Research at Hamptons International commented:

“As the gap between prices in London and the South East has grown, so has the temptation for Londoners to cash in on record house prices and move out of the capital. With expectations of future house price growth in London easing, many have chosen 2015 to make their move out of London.

“Given the flow out of London was suppressed for many years after the downturn, it is likely that there is still pent-up demand from families waiting to make life stage moves. We will see more Londoners leaving the capital in 2016, many prepared to move further afield in search of value for money.

“It is part of the natural life cycle of the capital that households move out as their priorities change. Many of those leaving London are in their 30s and 40s in search of more space and a different lifestyle. But 2015 saw a large number of first-time buyers moving out too. Affordability in London is more constrained than ever, so many who want to buy their first home are considering less expensive areas in the commuter belt.”