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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

Olivers Wharf, London, E1W
£5,500,000

Olivers Wharf, London, E1W

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

Jermyn Street, London, SW1Y

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

Porchester Place, London, W2

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

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2
£2,850,000

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2

Inglethorpe Street, London, SW6
£2,750,000

Inglethorpe Street, London, SW6

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

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

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1

Park Street, London, SE1
£2,250,000

Park Street, London, SE1

Ivory House, London, E1W
£2,250,000

Ivory House, London, E1W

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
£1,775,000

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2

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

Strathearn Place, London, W2

Mansfield Street, London, W1G
£1,650,000

Mansfield Street, London, W1G

Hyde Park Square, London, W2
£1,595,000

Hyde Park Square, London, W2

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

Sussex House, London, SE1
£1,500,000

Sussex House, London, SE1

Sheldon Square, London, W2
£1,499,999

Sheldon Square, London, W2

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

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1

St. Marys Terrace, London, W2
£1,250,000

St. Marys Terrace, London, W2

Capital Wharf, London, E1W
£1,250,000

Capital Wharf, London, E1W

Springalls Wharf Apartments, London, SE16
£1,250,000

Springalls Wharf Apartments, London, SE16

De Laune Street, London, SE17
£1,200,000

De Laune Street, London, SE17

Pont Street, London, SW1X
£1,200,000

Pont Street, London, SW1X

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

Spice Quay Heights, London, SE1

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

Butlers & Colonial Wharf, London, SE1

Praed Street, London, W2
£1,050,000

Praed Street, London, W2

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

Gloucester Terrace, London, W2
£980,000

Gloucester Terrace, London, W2

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2
£950,000

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2

Waterman Way, London, E1W
£950,000

Waterman Way, London, E1W

The Quadrangle, London, W2
£899,950

The Quadrangle, London, W2

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

St. Luke’s Street, London, SW3

Wimpole Street, London, W1G
£880,000

Wimpole Street, London, W1G

Jubilee Place, London, SW3
£865,000

Jubilee Place, London, SW3

Gloucester Terrace, London, W2
£850,000

Gloucester Terrace, London, W2

Chronicle Tower, London, EC1V
£850,000

Chronicle Tower, London, EC1V

Tamarind Court, London, SE1
£850,000

Tamarind Court, London, SE1

Porchester Square, London, W2
£850,000

Porchester Square, London, W2

St Hildas Wharf, London, E1W
£850,000

St Hildas Wharf, London, E1W

Hyde Park Square, London, W2
£820,000

Hyde Park Square, London, W2

Caraway Apartments, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £800,000

Caraway Apartments, London, SE1

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

Butlers & Colonial Wharf, 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

Globe Wharf, London, SE16
Offers in excess of £800,000

Globe Wharf, London, SE16

Merganser Court, London, E1W
£800,000

Merganser Court, London, E1W

Cole Street, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £775,000

Cole Street, London, SE1

Lower Sloane Street, London, SW1W
£762,500

Lower Sloane Street, London, SW1W

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1
£750,000

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1

Lion Court, London, SE1
£750,000

Lion Court, London, SE1

River View Heights, London, SE16
£750,000

River View Heights, London, SE16

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

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

Devonport, London, W2
£735,000

Devonport, London, W2

Porchester Square, London, W2
£735,000

Porchester Square, London, W2

Devonport, London, W2
£725,000

Devonport, London, W2

Ovington Square, London, SW3
£715,000

Ovington Square, London, SW3

Clifton Place, London, W2
offersOver £700,000

Clifton Place, London, W2

Cinnabar Wharf Central, London, E1W
£700,000

Cinnabar Wharf Central, London, E1W

Paultons House, London, SW3
offersOver £699,000

Paultons House, London, SW3

River View Heights, London, SE16
£685,000

River View Heights, London, SE16

Lower Sloane Street, London, SW1W
£680,000

Lower Sloane Street, London, SW1W

3 Ovington Square, London, SW3
£675,000

3 Ovington Square, London, SW3

Butlers & Colonial Wharf, London, SE1
£675,000

Butlers & Colonial Wharf, London, SE1

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

Wenlock Road, London, N1

Merchant Court, London, E1W
£650,000

Merchant Court, London, E1W

The Circle, London, SE1
£650,000

The Circle, London, SE1

Queens Court, London, SE16
£650,000

Queens Court, London, SE16

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

Strathearn Place, London, W2
£625,000

Strathearn Place, London, W2

Stourcliffe Street, London, W1H
£625,000

Stourcliffe Street, London, W1H

Harrow Road, London, W9
£600,000

Harrow Road, London, W9

Hermitage Court, London, E1W
£600,000

Hermitage Court, London, E1W

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

Mission Point, London, SE16
£600,000

Mission Point, London, SE16

Park Vista Tower, London, E1W
£600,000

Park Vista Tower, London, E1W

Edgware Road, London, W2
£575,000

Edgware Road, London, W2

Blandford Street, London, W1U
£550,000

Blandford Street, London, W1U

Thames Heights, London, SE1
£550,000

Thames Heights, London, SE1

Rampart Street, London, E1
£550,000

Rampart Street, London, E1

Leeward Court, London, E1W
£530,000

Leeward Court, London, E1W

Westbourne Terrace, London, W2
£525,000

Westbourne Terrace, London, W2

Southwick Street, London, W2
£525,000

Southwick Street, London, W2

Cheyne Place, London, SW3
£525,000

Cheyne Place, London, SW3

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

New Caledonian Wharf, London, SE16
£500,000

New Caledonian Wharf, London, SE16

New Crane Wharf, London, E1W
£500,000

New Crane Wharf, London, E1W

Towerside, London, E1W
Offers in excess of £500,000

Towerside, London, E1W

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

New Tannery Way, London, SE1

North Rise, London, W2
£495,000

North Rise, London, W2

Sussex Gardens, London, W2
£495,000

Sussex Gardens, London, W2

Edgware Road, London, W2
£475,000

Edgware Road, London, W2

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1
Guide Price £475,000

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1
£475,000

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1

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

Monmouth Road, London, W2

Lancaster Gate, London, W2
Offers in excess of £460,000

Lancaster Gate, London, W2

Forset Court, London, W2
£450,000

Forset Court, London, W2

Free Trade Wharf, London, E1W
£450,000

Free Trade Wharf, London, E1W

Walker House, London, SE1
£450,000

Walker House, London, SE1

Cole Street, London, SE1
£450,000

Cole Street, London, SE1

Compass House, London, E1W
£430,000

Compass House, London, E1W

Ginger Apartments, London, SE1
£425,000

Ginger Apartments, London, SE1

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1
£425,000

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

West India Quay, London, E14
£425,000

West India Quay, London, E14

Harrowby Street, London, W1H
£420,000

Harrowby Street, London, W1H

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

Dalston Square, London, E8

Upper Berkeley Street, London, W1H
£399,995

Upper Berkeley Street, London, W1H

Seymour Street, London, W1H
Offers in the region of £399,950

Seymour Street, London, W1H

Harrowby Street, London, W1H
£390,000

Harrowby 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

Cole Street, London, SE1
£350,000

Cole Street, London, SE1

Edgware Road, London, W2
£275,000

Edgware Road, London, W2

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