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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

Southwick Place, London, W2
£5,750,000

Southwick Place, London, W2

Olivers Wharf, London, E1W
£5,500,000

Olivers Wharf, London, E1W

Connaught Square, London, W2
£5,250,000

Connaught Square, London, W2

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

Connaught Square, London, W2

Lower Teddington Road, London, KT1
Offers in excess of £3,500,000

Lower Teddington Road, London, KT1

Olivers Wharf, London, E1W
£3,250,000

Olivers Wharf, London, E1W

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

Inglethorpe Street, London, SW6

Ebury Street, London, SW1W
£3,200,000

Ebury Street, London, SW1W

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

Porchester Place, London, W2

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

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2

Cambridge Square, London, W2
£2,950,000

Cambridge Square, London, W2

Lower Teddington Road, London, KT1
£2,750,000

Lower Teddington Road, London, KT1

Norfolk Crescent, London, W2
£2,500,000

Norfolk Crescent, London, W2

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

Cleveland Square, London, W2

Palace Court, London, W2
£2,500,000

Palace Court, London, W2

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2
£2,295,000

Hyde Park Gardens, 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

New Concordia Wharf, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £2,000,000

New Concordia Wharf, London, SE1

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

New Crane Wharf, London, E1W
Offers in excess of £1,750,000

New Crane Wharf, London, E1W

The Water Gardens, London, W2
£1,700,000

The Water Gardens, London, W2

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

Mansfield Street, London, W1G

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

Anchor Brewhouse, London, SE1

Saffron Wharf, London, SE1
£1,600,000

Saffron Wharf, London, SE1

Sheldon Square, London, W2
£1,499,999

Sheldon Square, London, W2

Hyde Park Crescent, London, W2
£1,495,000

Hyde Park Crescent, London, W2

Abinger Mews, London, W9
£1,399,999

Abinger Mews, London, W9

Praed Street, London, W2
Offers in excess of £1,350,000

Praed Street, London, W2

Spice Quay Heights, London, SE1
£1,250,000

Spice Quay Heights, London, SE1

New Archers Court, London, SE16
Guide Price £1,250,000

New Archers Court, London, SE16

Jacana Court, London, E1W
£1,225,000

Jacana Court, London, E1W

Sanderling Lodge, London, E1W
£1,200,000

Sanderling Lodge, London, E1W

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

Graham Street, London, N1

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

Clifton Place, London, W2

Aliwal Mews, London, SW11
£1,000,000

Aliwal Mews, London, SW11

De Vere Mews, London, W8
£999,999

De Vere Mews, London, W8

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2
£950,000

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2

Waterman Way, London, E1W
£950,000

Waterman Way, London, E1W

Butlers & Colonial Wharf, London, SE1
£940,000

Butlers & Colonial Wharf, London, SE1

Chronicle Tower, London, EC1V
Guide Price £900,000

Chronicle Tower, London, EC1V

Tamarind Court, London, SE1
£900,000

Tamarind Court, London, SE1

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

Eagle Wharf Court, London, SE1
£895,000

Eagle Wharf Court, London, SE1

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

Caraway Apartments, London, SE1

Maltby Street, London, SE1
£800,000

Maltby Street, London, SE1

Westgate Terrace, London, SW10
£800,000

Westgate Terrace, London, SW10

Balmoral House, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £800,000

Balmoral House, London, SE1

Tea Trade Wharf, London, SE1
Guide Price £800,000

Tea Trade Wharf, London, SE1

Linden Gardens, London, W2
£795,000

Linden Gardens, London, W2

Lower Sloane Street, London, SW1W
£779,000

Lower Sloane Street, London, SW1W

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1
£775,000

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1

Monck House, London, SE1
£775,000

Monck House, London, SE1

Devonport, London, W2
£770,000

Devonport, London, W2

Park Steps, London, W2
£770,000

Park Steps, London, W2

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

Southwell House 34-36 Egerton Gardens, London, SW3

Halcyon Wharf, London, E1W
£750,000

Halcyon Wharf, London, E1W

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

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

Stourcliffe Street, London, W1H
£750,000

Stourcliffe Street, London, W1H

Beaufort Street, London, SW3
£750,000

Beaufort Street, London, SW3

Cardamom Building, London, SE1
Guide Price £750,000

Cardamom Building, London, SE1

Lion Court, London, SE1
£750,000

Lion Court, London, SE1

Paultons House, London, SW3
Offers in excess of £740,000

Paultons House, London, SW3

The Circle, London, SE1
£740,000

The Circle, 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

Harrington Gardens, London, SW7
£725,000

Harrington Gardens, London, SW7

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

3 Ovington Square, London, SW3
£690,000

3 Ovington Square, London, SW3

Millennium Square, London, SE1
£685,000

Millennium Square, London, SE1

Thames Heights, London, SE1
£675,000

Thames Heights, London, SE1

Hermitage Court, London, E1W
£675,000

Hermitage Court, London, E1W

Wyndham Street, London, W1H
£670,000

Wyndham Street, London, W1H

Harrow Road, London, W9
£650,000

Harrow Road, London, W9

Merchant Court, London, E1W
£650,000

Merchant Court, London, E1W

Granary House, London, SE16
Guide Price £650,000

Granary House, London, SE16

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
Offers in excess of £650,000

Merchant Court, London, E1W

Quadrangle Tower, London, W2
£625,000

Quadrangle Tower, London, W2

Porchester Place, London, W2
£625,000

Porchester Place, London, W2

Boss House, London, SE1
Guide Price £625,000

Boss House, London, SE1

Axis Court, London, SE16
£625,000

Axis Court, London, SE16

Cole Street, London, SE1
£625,000

Cole Street, London, SE1

Gun Wharf, London, E1W
£600,000

Gun Wharf, London, E1W

Globe Wharf, London, SE16
Guide Price £600,000

Globe Wharf, London, SE16

Walker House, London, SE1
£600,000

Walker House, London, SE1

Blandford Street, London, W1U
£590,000

Blandford Street, London, W1U

Pierpoint Building, London, E14
£580,000

Pierpoint Building, London, E14

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

Westbourne Terrace, London, W2
£565,000

Westbourne Terrace, London, W2

Codling Close, London, E1W
£550,000

Codling Close, London, E1W

Higgins House, London, SE1
Guide Price £550,000

Higgins House, London, SE1

Eagle Wharf Court, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £550,000

Eagle Wharf Court, London, SE1

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1
£550,000

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1

Falconet Court, London, E1W
£550,000

Falconet Court, London, E1W

Cheyne Place, London, SW3
£539,000

Cheyne Place, London, SW3

New Tannery Way, London, SE1
£530,000

New Tannery Way, London, SE1

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

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

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

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

North Rise, London, W2
£515,000

North Rise, London, W2

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

Book House, London, EC1V

Ginger Apartments, London, SE1
£500,000

Ginger Apartments, London, SE1

Southgate Road, London, N1
£500,000

Southgate Road, London, N1

Free Trade Wharf, London, E1W
£500,000

Free Trade Wharf, London, E1W

Daventry Street, London, NW1
£500,000

Daventry Street, London, NW1

Free Trade Wharf, London, E1W
£500,000

Free Trade Wharf, London, E1W

New Caledonian Wharf, London, SE16
£500,000

New Caledonian Wharf, London, SE16

Forset Court, London, W2
£489,000

Forset Court, London, W2

Edgware Road, London, W2
£475,000

Edgware Road, London, W2

Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1
£475,000

Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1

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

Monmouth Road, London, W2

Knot House, London, SE1
£450,000

Knot House, London, SE1

Red Lion Court, London, E1W
£450,000

Red Lion Court, London, E1W

Harrowby Street, London, W1H
£450,000

Harrowby Street, London, W1H

Pier Head, London, E1W
£450,000

Pier Head, London, E1W

Compass House, London, E1W
£430,000

Compass House, London, E1W

Dalston Square, London, E8
Offers in excess of £425,000

Dalston Square, London, E8

Seymour Street, London, W1H
£425,000

Seymour Street, London, W1H

Cole Street, London, SE1
£425,000

Cole Street, London, SE1

Harrowby Street, London, W1H
£405,000

Harrowby Street, London, W1H

Upper Berkeley Street, London, W1H
£399,995

Upper Berkeley Street, London, W1H

Blythe Road, London, W14
£350,000

Blythe Road, London, W14

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

Caledonian Road, London, N1

Manilla Street, London, E14
£340,000

Manilla Street, London, E14

Chelsea Cloisters, London, SW3
£315,000

Chelsea Cloisters, London, SW3

Edgware Road, London, W2
£295,000

Edgware Road, London, W2

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