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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 Place, London, W1U
Offers in excess of £7,000,000

Gloucester Place, London, W1U

Albion Street, London, W2
£4,650,000

Albion Street, London, W2

Chelwood House, London, W2
£4,500,000

Chelwood House, London, W2

Lower Teddington Road, London, KT1
Offers in excess of £4,250,000

Lower Teddington Road, London, KT1

Brompton Square, London, SW3
£3,995,000

Brompton Square, London, SW3

Park Mansions, London, SW1X
Guide Price £3,300,000

Park Mansions, London, SW1X

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

Porchester Place, London, W2

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £3,000,000

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1

New Concordia Wharf, London, SE1
£2,850,000

New Concordia Wharf, London, SE1

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1
£2,500,000

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1

Palace Court, London, W2
£2,450,000

Palace Court, London, W2

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

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2

South Audley Street, London, W1K
£2,295,000

South Audley Street, London, W1K

Willow Road, London, NW3
£2,250,000

Willow Road, London, NW3

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £2,100,000

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £2,000,000

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1

Tea Trade Wharf, London, SE1
£2,000,000

Tea Trade Wharf, London, SE1

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

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1

Cinnabar Wharf West, London, E1W
Guide Price £1,750,000

Cinnabar Wharf West, London, E1W

Springalls Wharf Apartments, London, SE16
Offers in excess of £1,750,000

Springalls Wharf Apartments, London, SE16

Hays Court, London, SE16
£1,750,000

Hays Court, London, SE16

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

The Water Gardens, London, W2

Portsea Hall,, London, W2
£1,495,000

Portsea Hall,, London, W2

Anchor Brewhouse, London, SE1
£1,450,000

Anchor Brewhouse, London, SE1

Cashmere Wharf, London, E1W
£1,450,000

Cashmere Wharf, London, E1W

Luna House, London, SE16
£1,400,000

Luna House, London, SE16

New Archers Court, London, SE16
£1,395,000

New Archers Court, London, SE16

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

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1

Clifton Place, London, W2
£1,300,000

Clifton Place, London, W2

New Concordia Wharf, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £1,250,000

New Concordia Wharf, London, SE1

Capital Wharf, London, E1W
£1,250,000

Capital Wharf, London, E1W

Springalls Wharf Apartments, London, SE16
Offers in excess of £1,250,000

Springalls Wharf Apartments, London, SE16

Clifton Place, London, W2
£1,200,000

Clifton Place, London, W2

Dalston Square, London, E8
£1,150,000

Dalston Square, London, E8

Caraway Apartments, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £1,050,000

Caraway Apartments, London, SE1

Kensington Gardens Square, London, W2
Offers in excess of £1,000,000

Kensington Gardens Square, London, W2

Compass Court, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £1,000,000

Compass Court, London, SE1

Chronicle Tower, London, EC1V
£1,000,000

Chronicle Tower, London, EC1V

Caraway Apartments, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £1,000,000

Caraway Apartments, London, SE1

The Quadrangle, London, W2
£999,000

The Quadrangle, London, W2

Hermitage Court, London, E1W
£995,000

Hermitage Court, London, E1W

Sussex Place, London, W2
£995,000

Sussex Place, London, W2

Eagle Wharf Court, London, SE1
£975,000

Eagle Wharf Court, London, SE1

Springalls Wharf Apartments, London, SE16
Offers in excess of £950,000

Springalls Wharf Apartments, London, SE16

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £900,000

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1

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

St. Luke’s Street, London, SW3

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1
£875,000

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

West India Quay, London, E14
£850,000

West India Quay, London, E14

Sanctuary Court, London, E1W
£850,000

Sanctuary Court, London, E1W

Ivory House, London, E1W
£850,000

Ivory House, London, E1W

Long Lane, London, SE1
£830,000

Long Lane, London, SE1

Providence Square, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £825,000

Providence Square, London, SE1

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1
£800,000

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

Gloucester Mews, London, W2
£800,000

Gloucester Mews, London, W2

Merchant Court, London, E1W
Offers in excess of £800,000

Merchant Court, London, E1W

Park Vista Tower, London, E1W
£800,000

Park Vista Tower, London, E1W

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1
£799,950

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

The Water Gardens, London, W2
£795,000

The Water Gardens, London, W2

China Wharf, London, SE1
Offers in the region of £795,000

China Wharf, London, SE1

Portsea Place, London, W2
£795,000

Portsea Place, London, W2

Ovington Square, SW3
£795,000

Ovington Square, SW3

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1
£795,000

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

Wix’s Lane, London, SW4
£785,000

Wix’s Lane, London, SW4

Ovington Square, SW3
£775,000

Ovington Square, SW3

Tunnel Wharf, London, SE16
£775,000

Tunnel Wharf, London, SE16

Lion Court, London, SE1
£775,000

Lion Court, London, SE1

Balmoral House, London, SE1
£770,000

Balmoral House, London, SE1

Globe Wharf, London, SE16
£765,000

Globe Wharf, London, SE16

Fennel Apartments, London, SE1
£750,000

Fennel Apartments, London, SE1

Knot House, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £750,000

Knot House, London, SE1

Ralph Court, London, W2
Offers in excess of £750,000

Ralph Court, London, W2

Clifton Place, London, W2
£750,000

Clifton Place, London, W2

Boss House, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £750,000

Boss House, London, SE1

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1
£750,000

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1

Bramwell Mews, London, N1
Guide Price £750,000

Bramwell Mews, London, N1

Stanhope Terrace, London, W2
£749,500

Stanhope Terrace, London, W2

Boss House, London, SE1
£715,000

Boss House, London, SE1

Granary House, London, SE16
£700,000

Granary House, London, SE16

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £700,000

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1

Alton Road, London, N17
Guide Price £700,000

Alton Road, London, N17

Vesta Court, London, SE1
£700,000

Vesta Court, London, SE1

Capstan Court, London, E1W
Offers in excess of £700,000

Capstan Court, London, E1W

Merchant Court, London, E1W
£700,000

Merchant Court, London, E1W

Almorah Road, London, N1
Guide Price £700,000

Almorah Road, London, N1

The Quadrangle, London, W2
£695,000

The Quadrangle, London, W2

Thames Heights, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £690,000

Thames Heights, London, SE1

Gun Wharf, London, E1W
£650,000

Gun Wharf, London, E1W

Cardamom Building, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £650,000

Cardamom Building, London, SE1

Aberdour Street, London, SE1
£635,000

Aberdour Street, London, SE1

Prebend Street, London, N1
£625,000

Prebend Street, London, N1

Eagle Wharf Court, London, SE1
£600,000

Eagle Wharf Court, London, SE1

Chelsea Manor Street, SW3
£600,000

Chelsea Manor Street, SW3

Chapel Market, London, N1
Guide Price £600,000

Chapel Market, London, N1

Caraway Apartments, London, SE1
£600,000

Caraway Apartments, London, SE1

Stourcliffe Street, London, W1H
£595,000

Stourcliffe Street, London, W1H

Aberdour Street, London, SE1
£595,000

Aberdour Street, London, SE1

Park West, London, W2
£590,000

Park West, London, W2

Chelsea Manor Street, London, SW3
£575,000

Chelsea Manor Street, London, SW3

St. Saviours Wharf, London, SE1
£565,000

St. Saviours Wharf, London, SE1

Alington House, London, N8
Guide Price £550,000

Alington House, London, N8

Riverside Mansions, London, E1W
Offers in excess of £550,000

Riverside Mansions, London, E1W

The Water Gardens, London, W2
£549,500

The Water Gardens, London, W2

Dovecote House, London, SE16
£535,000

Dovecote House, London, SE16

New Crane Wharf, London, E1W
£525,000

New Crane Wharf, London, E1W

Ginger Apartments, London, SE1
£525,000

Ginger Apartments, London, SE1

The Circle, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £525,000

The Circle, London, SE1

The Circle, London, SE1
£520,000

The Circle, London, SE1

Steward Street, London, E1
Guide Price £500,000

Steward Street, London, E1

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

Book House, London, EC1V

Euston Road, London, NW1
Guide Price £500,000

Euston Road, London, NW1

Timbrell Place, London, SE16
£500,000

Timbrell Place, London, SE16

Burr Close, London, E1W
£500,000

Burr Close, London, E1W

Forset Court, London, W2
£489,000

Forset Court, London, W2

Edgware Road, London, W2
£475,000

Edgware Road, London, W2

Kelvin Road, London, N5
Offers in excess of £450,000

Kelvin Road, London, N5

Essex Road, London, N1
Offers in excess of £450,000

Essex Road, London, N1

Knot House, London, SE1
£450,000

Knot House, London, SE1

Dalston Square, London, E8
Offers in excess of £450,000

Dalston Square, London, E8

Devon Mansions, London, SE1
£450,000

Devon Mansions, London, SE1

Hardinge Street, London, E1
£450,000

Hardinge Street, London, E1

Wimbourne Street, London, N1
£450,000

Wimbourne Street, London, N1

Goldhawk Road, W12
£445,000

Goldhawk Road, W12

Boss House, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £400,000

Boss House, London, SE1

Haven Way, London, SE1
Guide Price £385,000

Haven Way, London, SE1

Blackthorn Avenue, London, N7
Offers in excess of £375,000

Blackthorn Avenue, London, N7

Forset Court, London, W2
£350,000

Forset Court, London, W2

Pan Peninsula, Pan Peninsula Square, London, E14
£337,500

Pan Peninsula, Pan Peninsula Square, London, E14

Edgware Road, London, W2
Offers in excess of £275,000

Edgware Road, London, W2

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