More Londoners moving out of capital to search for new home according to Hamptons International

New figures recently published by Hamptons International show that there were 61% more Londoners leaving the capital and buying homes elsewhere in the first half of this year than at the same period 10 years ago. The number of Londoners who bought homes outside the capital rose to 30,280 in H1 2018, a 16% rise following last year’s dip.  In H1 2017 a total of 26,180 Londoners moved out of the capital, down from 32,360 in H1 2016.

Hamptons International reveal that in the first half of 2018 Londoners bought over 30,000 homes outside the capital, 16% more than the same period last year and 61% more than in H1 2008.

Since 2010 the proportion of Londoners leaving the capital for Northern England or the Midlands has tripled, the average price of a home bought by a Londoner leaving the capital rose to £424,610, the highest on record.  The figures also reveal that 31% of first-time buyers living in London bought outside the capital, down 2% on H1 2016.

Commenting Aneisha Beveridge, Research Analyst at Hamptons International, said:

“With affordability stretched, more Londoners are moving out of the capital to find their new home.  The proportion of London leavers heading North has tripled in the last 10 years.  More people are making a bigger move and buying a larger home sooner to avoid having to pay stamp duty on additional moves as they trade up.  But for many, this means heading further North.

“However, more first-time buyers are staying in the capital to purchase their first home than last year.  The savings from stamp duty relief and the availability of Help to Buy has meant that more first-time buyers are able to remain in London than before.  But raising a deposit remains a hurdle for many, which helps explain why increasing numbers of first-time buyers who leave London are heading North.”

Read the recent news release from Hamptons International in full click here.

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

to let sign 2025
Breaking News

Thames Valley Rents Surge to £1,448 – 6% Above UK Average

Average rents in Thames Valley reach £1,448 pcm, nearly 6% above the UK average, new report reveals Rents in Thames Valley reach £1,448 pcm, nearly 6% above the UK average of £1,369 Wokingham and Reading highlighted as key areas of interest for renters and investors Renters in Thames Valley are more likely to be older than anywhere else in…
Read More
Breaking News

July’s HMRC Property Transactions Report

Headline statistics Headline statistics from the latest transactions data include: the provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in July 2026 is 96,710, 1% lower than July 2025 and 2% lower than June 2026 the provisional non-seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in July 2026 is 106,620, 5% higher than July…
Read More
Breaking News

Almost half of homesellers hit by broken chains

The latest research from House Buyer Bureau has revealed that almost half of home sellers who form part of a property chain have seen that chain break during the sales process, with buyers changing their minds and pulling out by far the most common reason why.   House Buyer Bureau commissioned an independent survey of 1,072…
Read More
Social Housing 2019
Breaking News

Only 1 in 10 new-build homebuyers happy

Just 1 in 10 new-build buyers got the home they wanted before moving in   The latest research from UK Property Development (UKPD) has found that just 11% of people who purchased a new-build home in the past two years were able to personalise their property exactly as they wanted before moving in. As a…
Read More
Breaking News

One-third of tenant income in the UK goes on rent

Lomond’s Summer 2026 Quarterly Insights report reveals tenants now spend an average of 32.7% of their yearly income on rent UK average rents rise to £1,369pcm, increasing by +4.3% in the same period last year Average rent in London reaches £2,418pcm, 76% higher than the UK average The average age of renters across the UK is now 31.5   Lomond, the UK’s leading network of lettings and sales agents, has…
Read More
Finance

Six in 10 UK businesses look to adapt operations in response to extreme heat

37 per cent have increased heat-related investment, with 23 per cent considering it Cooling equipment, including air conditioning and ventilation, is the most common investment priority (28 per cent) Barclays anonymised client data shows that air conditioning suppliers saw cash inflows increase by 4.3 per cent year-on-year into Barclays accounts Consumers claim 25.1°C is their…
Read More