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More Gardens Needed?

Scott Austin • June 22, 2020

Would you like a garden?

R.I.C.S. Predicts greater interest in green space.

The latest residential survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors shows that the market is preparing for a surge in interest in properties with access to fresh air, be that through a garden or balcony.

May’s survey included an extra question, asking what property features are most likely to be desirable for the next two years. Rics reports that 81 per cent of respondents agreed that buyers will look for gardens or balconies, 74 per cent selected homes near green spaces, and 68 per cent thought that grater private and less communal space will be a priority for buyers.

Elsewhere, indicators moved up in May, although they remained in negative territory: the headline net balance for new buyer enquiries moved from negative 94 per cent in April to negative 5 per while the newly agreed sales indicator moved from negative 93 per cent to negative 35 per cent.

Meanwhile, the new instructions indicator rose from negative 97 per cent to negative 20 per cent.

Rics adds that this is only the case in England due to estate agent restrictions still being in force in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales in May.

Near term sales expectations also saw improvement: the net balance came in at negative 4 per cent in May versus negative 58 per cent the month before, and expectations within a 12-month horizon were positive, shifting from negative 6 per cent to 10 per cent.

The headline price indicator, however, headed downward, from negative 22 per cent in April to negative 32 per cent, which is the weakest monthly reading since 2010. Near-term this runs at negative 43 per cent and a year out, negative 16 per cent.

Respondents to the survey believe that rents will fall over the next three months, although to less of an extent than in April, with the net balance gaining from negative 39 per cent to negative 11 per cent. Landlord instructions fell and tenant demand moved from negative 48 per cent to negative 12 per cent.

MT Finance director Tomer Aboody says “Buyers are focusing on outside space and parks, which will in turn provide a resurgence in interest in the home counties as buyers feel they can get more bang for their buck the further out of the city centre they are prepared to go. This will also give them more indoors space to work from home in future, and perhaps make a second lockdown easier to deal with.

“Whereas this would be a natural human reaction to the current situation, there will still be those buyers who would rather be close to central London and avoid the commute in, which has always been an issue due to overcrowded trains. This could push up prices of London homes with gardens or other outside space.

“We are seeing some confidence among buyers. With very little stock on the market in the short term at least, transactions are completing.”

Source: Mortgage Strategy Gary Adams June 2020

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