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.

The new figures 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 (18,840).  

Most London leavers stay in the South of England. Two out of five (38%) London leavers move to the South East. But this is down 3% compared to H1 2017 as affordability tightens. The East of England is the next most popular destination with 30% of London leavers moving to the region. One in every six homes sold in the East of England is sold to a London leaver (16%).

However, as more people are priced out of the South, the proportion of Londoners leaving for Northern England or the Midlands has more than tripled since 2008. In H1 2018, one in five London leavers moved to the North or Midlands (21%), up from just 6% a decade ago.   

74,000 more homeworkers each year
Data from the Annual Population Survey published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), released earlier this year, revealed that the number of people working from home in the UK increased from 1,266,079 in Q1 2015 to 1,413,927 in Q1 2017, an increase of almost 148,000 in two years, or 74,000 per year on average.