Blow to London as half of renters say they’d leave if they could

The pandemic has brought with it a whole new way of working, with many businesses now offering a hybrid model, and others ditching their offices entirely and allowing employees to work remotely full-time. 

But what does this mean for big cities that once drew people in for work? 

Do people choose London for the city itself, or is living in the capital purely based on having to be there for work? What if we could keep our jobs and work anywhere, would people still want to live in cities like London?

New research from flatshare site SpareRoom reveals that 49 per cent of London renters would quit the capital if they could still keep their job. 

Some 38 per cent of them said they’d leave the country altogether and live abroad if they could still keep their job. 

Twenty two per cent would choose to move to the countryside, while 19 per cent would opt for a new city and 11 per cent would prefer a new town. 

It’s not just London renters who would leave - over half living in other major cities want to move from their current location if they could keep their job.  

SpareRoom director Matt Hutchinson says: “The pandemic has shown that most of us can work from anywhere, opening up the opportunity for people to choose a place to live because it better suits their lifestyle, rather than their commute. 

“What’s clear from this research is that renters are eager for a lifestyle change, with the majority wanting to make the move, whether that be from a city like London or a small seaside town, if their employers allow remote working.”