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A home from home: working from abroad

Has lockdown made you consider working from abroad?

The number of Britons seeking property abroad has surged since the coronavirus outbreak, with a record number of Brits searching for overseas homes according to the property portal Rightmove. Rightmove said demand for overseas property ‘rocketed’ this summer when lockdown 1 restrictions were eased, with users of Rightmove Overseas increasing by 41% in June 2020 compared to June 2019. Perhaps it was all the free time that was suddenly available, or maybe people used the lockdown to reassess their lives, but the property buying site reports that it has never before seen the volume of interest in buying overseas properties from people in the UK.

Jo Leverett, head of international sales at Cluttons has seen a particular increase in buyers who are looking to work from abroad as well as just use the purchase for holidays. She comments: “Lockdown has proved to many people that modern technology means they can work from anywhere. Furthermore, the travel restrictions have meant that having an overseas property of your own gives you more flexibility for overseas travel. People can see that a second home abroad could be used for more than just a holiday.”

According to Rightmove, the most sought-after location has, not surprisingly, been Spain. Then France, Portugal, Italy and Greece completed the top five. France is seeing an increasing interest as the pandemic goes on from buyers who want to be able to drive to their holiday home rather than rely on flights right now. Echoing what we are seeing in the UK with people looking for more outside space, houses or apartments with gardens and access to countryside, beaches or the mountains are driving demand.

Buyers who had planned to retire abroad in the future are now considering bringing the purchase forward with more flexible working conditions potentially allowing them to use the home for longer periods during the year.

Some buyers are not just looking for holiday homes, many are looking to relocate full time, driving demand for properties in European cities, especially those that have recently invested in infrastructure such as coworking offices and international schools like Lisbon, Malaga and Malta. Frederico Mendoca, head of the Cluttons Lisbon office comments: “Over the past few years Lisbon has seen an increasing demand from investors all over the world looking for a European base to live and work from. Its favourable climate, fantastic beaches, variety of housing stock, investment in infrastructure, new international schools and tax advantages have all helped fuel this interest.”

If you are planning to work abroad it is important to check the tax implications and local laws, we would always recommend speaking with your tax adviser and lawyer. Also bear in mind some employers will have their own restrictions.

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Jo Leverett

Partner, residential investment & international

Head office

T +44 (0) 20 7647 7243
Jo Leverett, Cluttons
Gloucester Square, London, W2
£10,000,000

Gloucester Square, London, W2

Hyde Park Crescent, London, W2
£7,350,000

Hyde Park Crescent, London, W2

Olivers Wharf, London, E1W
£5,500,000

Olivers Wharf, London, E1W

Connaught Square, London, W2
£5,000,000

Connaught Square, London, W2

Betterton Street, London, WC2H
£4,250,000

Betterton Street, London, WC2H

Jermyn Street, London, SW1Y
£3,650,000

Jermyn Street, London, SW1Y

Inglethorpe Street, London, SW6
£3,200,000

Inglethorpe Street, London, SW6

Porchester Place, London, W2
Guide Price £3,195,000

Porchester Place, London, W2

Ebury Street, London, SW1W
£3,000,000

Ebury Street, London, SW1W

Olivers Wharf, London, E1W
Offers in excess of £3,000,000

Olivers Wharf, London, E1W

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2
£2,999,950

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2

Cambridge Square, London, W2
£2,800,000

Cambridge Square, London, W2

Conquest Tower, London, SE1
£2,600,000

Conquest Tower, London, SE1

Cleveland Square, London, W2
£2,500,000

Cleveland Square, London, W2

Palace Court, London, W2
£2,500,000

Palace Court, London, W2

Ivory House, London, E1W
£2,500,000

Ivory House, London, E1W

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1
£2,250,000

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1

Park Street, London, SE1
£2,250,000

Park Street, London, SE1

Betterton Street, London, WC2H
£2,150,000

Betterton Street, London, WC2H

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2
£2,095,000

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2

Norfolk Crescent, London, W2
Offers in excess of £2,000,000

Norfolk Crescent, London, W2

Craven Hill Gardens, London, W2
Offers in excess of £2,000,000

Craven Hill Gardens, London, W2

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2
£1,850,000

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1
£1,850,000

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1

Strathearn Place, London, W2
£1,750,000

Strathearn Place, London, W2

Mansfield Street, London, W1G
£1,700,000

Mansfield Street, London, W1G

Anchor Brewhouse, London, SE1
£1,650,000

Anchor Brewhouse, London, SE1

The Water Gardens, London, W2
£1,525,000

The Water Gardens, London, W2

Saffron Wharf, London, SE1
Guide Price £1,500,000

Saffron Wharf, London, SE1

Sheldon Square, London, W2
£1,499,999

Sheldon Square, London, W2

St. Marys Terrace, London, W2
£1,375,000

St. Marys Terrace, London, W2

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1
£1,350,000

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1

New Concordia Wharf, London, SE1
£1,200,000

New Concordia Wharf, London, SE1

Spice Quay Heights, London, SE1
£1,195,000

Spice Quay Heights, London, SE1

Graham Street, London, N1
Guide Price £1,150,000

Graham Street, London, N1

Butlers & Colonial Wharf, London, SE1
£1,100,000

Butlers & Colonial Wharf, London, SE1

Clifton Place, London, W2
Offers in excess of £1,050,000

Clifton Place, London, W2

New Archers Court, London, SE16
Offers in excess of £1,000,000

New Archers Court, London, SE16

Aliwal Mews, London, SW11
£1,000,000

Aliwal Mews, London, SW11

Capital Wharf, London, E1W
Offers in excess of £1,000,000

Capital Wharf, London, E1W

Kennet Street, London, E1W
£1,000,000

Kennet Street, London, E1W

De Vere Mews, London, W8
£999,999

De Vere Mews, London, W8

President Drive, London, E1W
£975,000

President Drive, London, E1W

Tanner Street, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £970,000

Tanner Street, London, SE1

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2
£950,000

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2

Waterman Way, London, E1W
£950,000

Waterman Way, London, E1W

Jubilee Place, London, SW3
£950,000

Jubilee Place, London, SW3

Butlers & Colonial Wharf, London, SE1
£900,000

Butlers & Colonial Wharf, London, SE1

Tamarind Court, London, SE1
£900,000

Tamarind Court, London, SE1

Globe Wharf, London, SE16
£900,000

Globe Wharf, London, SE16

The Quadrangle, London, W2
£899,950

The Quadrangle, London, W2

St. Luke’s Street, London, SW3
£895,000

St. Luke’s Street, London, SW3

Gloucester Terrace, London, W2
£895,000

Gloucester Terrace, London, W2

Calico House, London, SE1
£895,000

Calico House, London, SE1

Wimpole Street, London, W1G
£880,000

Wimpole Street, London, W1G

Caraway Apartments, London, SE1
Guide Price £850,000

Caraway Apartments, London, SE1

Chronicle Tower, London, EC1V
£850,000

Chronicle Tower, London, EC1V

Cole Street, London, SE1
£850,000

Cole Street, London, SE1

Porchester Square, London, W2
£850,000

Porchester Square, London, W2

Fennel Apartments, London, SE1
£850,000

Fennel Apartments, London, SE1

Westgate Terrace, London, SW10
£800,000

Westgate Terrace, London, SW10

Butlers & Colonial Wharf, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £800,000

Butlers & Colonial Wharf, London, SE1

Linden Gardens, London, W2
£795,000

Linden Gardens, London, W2

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1
£775,000

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1

Devonport, London, W2
£770,000

Devonport, London, W2

Southwell House 34-36 Egerton Gardens, London, SW3
£765,000

Southwell House 34-36 Egerton Gardens, London, SW3

Lower Sloane Street, London, SW1W
£762,500

Lower Sloane Street, London, SW1W

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1
£750,000

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

Lion Court, London, SE1
£750,000

Lion Court, London, SE1

Devonport, London, W2
£735,000

Devonport, London, W2

Porchester Square, London, W2
£735,000

Porchester Square, London, W2

Lion Court, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £725,000

Lion Court, London, SE1

Ovington Square, London, SW3
£715,000

Ovington Square, London, SW3

China Wharf, London, SE1
Guide Price £700,000

China Wharf, London, SE1

Clifton Place, London, W2
offersOver £700,000

Clifton Place, London, W2

River View Heights, London, SE16
Guide Price £700,000

River View Heights, London, SE16

Harrington Gardens, London, SW7
£700,000

Harrington Gardens, London, SW7

Merchant Court, London, E1W
£700,000

Merchant Court, London, E1W

Cinnabar Wharf Central, London, E1W
£700,000

Cinnabar Wharf Central, London, E1W

The Circle, London, SE1
£700,000

The Circle, London, SE1

Paultons House, London, SW3
offersOver £699,000

Paultons House, London, SW3

Millennium Square, London, SE1
£685,000

Millennium Square, London, SE1

Lower Sloane Street, London, SW1W
£680,000

Lower Sloane Street, London, SW1W

3 Ovington Square, London, SW3
£675,000

3 Ovington Square, London, SW3

Harrow Road, London, W9
£650,000

Harrow Road, London, W9

Wenlock Road, London, N1
Guide Price £650,000

Wenlock Road, London, N1

Upper Berkeley Street, London, W1H
£650,000

Upper Berkeley Street, London, W1H

Merchant Court, London, E1W
£650,000

Merchant Court, London, E1W

Merchant Court, London, E1W
Offers in excess of £650,000

Merchant Court, London, E1W

Thames Heights, London, SE1
£633,730

Thames Heights, London, SE1

Wyndham Street, London, W1H
£630,000

Wyndham Street, London, W1H

Quadrangle Tower, London, W2
£625,000

Quadrangle Tower, London, W2

Porchester Place, London, W2
£625,000

Porchester Place, London, W2

Axis Court, London, SE16
£625,000

Axis Court, London, SE16

Hermitage Court, London, E1W
£625,000

Hermitage Court, London, E1W

Strathearn Place, London, W2
£625,000

Strathearn Place, London, W2

Mission Point, London, SE16
Offers in the region of £625,000

Mission Point, London, SE16

Stourcliffe Street, London, W1H
£625,000

Stourcliffe Street, London, W1H

Eagle Wharf Court, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £600,000

Eagle Wharf Court, London, SE1

Halcyon Wharf, London, E1W
£600,000

Halcyon Wharf, London, E1W

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £600,000

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1

Halcyon Wharf, London, E1W
£600,000

Halcyon Wharf, London, E1W

Caraway Apartments, London, SE1
£600,000

Caraway Apartments, London, SE1

Quadrangle Tower, London, W2
£575,000

Quadrangle Tower, London, W2

Southwick Street, London, W2
£575,000

Southwick Street, London, W2

Edgware Road, London, W2
£575,000

Edgware Road, London, W2

Blandford Street, London, W1U
£550,000

Blandford Street, London, W1U

Codling Close, London, E1W
£550,000

Codling Close, London, E1W

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1
£550,000

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1

Rampart Street, London, E1
£550,000

Rampart Street, London, E1

Monck House, London, SE1
£550,000

Monck House, London, SE1

Leeward Court, London, E1W
£550,000

Leeward Court, London, E1W

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1
£525,000

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

Westbourne Terrace, London, W2
£525,000

Westbourne Terrace, London, W2

Cheyne Place, London, SW3
£525,000

Cheyne Place, London, SW3

Tower Bridge Wharf, London, E1W
£525,000

Tower Bridge Wharf, London, E1W

North Rise, London, W2
£515,000

North Rise, London, W2

Book House, London, EC1V
Guide Price £500,000

Book House, London, EC1V

Southgate Road, London, N1
£500,000

Southgate Road, London, N1

Daventry Street, London, NW1
£500,000

Daventry Street, London, NW1

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1
£500,000

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

Free Trade Wharf, London, E1W
£500,000

Free Trade Wharf, London, E1W

New Caledonian Wharf, London, SE16
£500,000

New Caledonian Wharf, London, SE16

Lancaster Gate, London, W2
£499,999

Lancaster Gate, London, W2

New Tannery Way, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £495,000

New Tannery Way, London, SE1

Forset Court, London, W2
£489,000

Forset Court, London, W2

Edgware Road, London, W2
£475,000

Edgware Road, London, W2

Monmouth Road, London, W2
Guide Price £460,000

Monmouth Road, London, W2

Ginger Apartments, London, SE1
£450,000

Ginger Apartments, London, SE1

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1
£450,000

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

Compass House, London, E1W
£430,000

Compass House, London, E1W

Seymour Street, London, W1H
£425,000

Seymour Street, London, W1H

Harrowby Street, London, W1H
£420,000

Harrowby Street, London, W1H

Harrowby Street, London, W1H
£405,000

Harrowby Street, London, W1H

Dalston Square, London, E8
Offers in excess of £400,000

Dalston Square, London, E8

Porchester Square, London, W2
Offers in excess of £400,000

Porchester Square, London, W2

Cole Street, London, SE1
£400,000

Cole Street, London, SE1

Fleming House, London, SE16
Guide Price £400,000

Fleming House, London, SE16

Upper Berkeley Street, London, W1H
£399,995

Upper Berkeley Street, London, W1H

Caledonian Road, London, N1
Guide Price £350,000

Caledonian Road, London, N1

Burr Close, London, E1W
Offers in excess of £350,000

Burr Close, London, E1W

Edgware Road, London, W2
£295,000

Edgware Road, London, W2

Bracken House, London, E3
£220,000

Bracken House, London, E3

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