Where are Brits buying holiday homes?

Where are Brits buying holiday homes?


Todays other news
There are some locations offering incentives to British investor buyers...
The market is strong ahead of the April stamp duty...
The PBSA analysis has been undertaken by Knight Frank...
The analysis has been done by Bond Wolfe...


Nearly 40% of British holidaymakers have the funds to buy a holiday home and plan to do so in 2019, according to research carried out by Away Resorts, a UK holiday park operator.

And a perhaps surprising number are opting for staycations rather than a holiday abroad in the sun. Staycations are on the rise and, in some cases, people are enjoying them so much they are looking into buying a holiday home on home soil.

The study by Away Resorts Caravan Sales unveiled three surprising trends which are shaping the decisions people are making around buying a holiday home.

Buying for a better work/life balance

With a quarter of Brits now working over 40 hours a week, time to plan extended holidays abroad is in short supply. And it appears people are becoming tired of the stress involved with holidaying abroad.

Research on the rise of British staycations, carried out by outdoor retailer Go Outdoors, saw 87% of respondents say that fresh air and less travel stress left them feeling happier compared to planning a getaway abroad. What’s more, a third said they slept better on a domestic holiday.

Meanwhile, nearly a quarter of those polled said they felt more connected to their families when they holidayed in the UK.

“How many times have you flown back from a holiday, got home and said, ‘I could do with a holiday’. It is healthier for you and for your bank balance to staycation,” Ian Mackintosh, of Go Outdoors, said.

In contrast to a holiday home abroad, purchasing one in Britain means people can factor in shorter, more regular breaks thanks to a shorter geographical distance and greater ease of access. Additionally, spontaneous family weekend trips could be made more achievable with a bolthole on home soil.

Brexit forces the hands of buyers

More than a quarter of Brits are now scrambling to buy a holiday home before Brexit occurs, the Away Resorts survey found.

With plenty of uncertainty surrounding how the housing market will be impacted once the UK finally withdraws from the European Union, it’s perhaps little surprise that many British buyers are eager to secure their perfect holiday home before  March 29 2019 hits, even if the prospect of the Brexit date being delayed has recently become a much bigger likelihood.   

“After Brexit, property prices could continue to rise in parts of the country and, even if we crash out with no deal, this may have no impact on house prices,” Matt Burrows, an estate agent in the South West of the UK, said.

One unforeseen consequence of Brexit has been a significant rise in staycations, with bookings rising by 28% last year.

Cornwall, often viewed as one of the jewels in the crown of English tourism, is one location that’s especially noticed a surge, with some areas seeing a 30% increase in bookings.

The region, famed for its scenery, cuisine and fishing heritage, was also voted as the most desirable location in which to have a holiday home in the Away Resorts survey. However, Cornwall is one of the regions facing the biggest issues with second and holiday home ownership, with action taken in recent years by a number of Cornish towns to limit the problems it has caused.

In 2016, a referendum held in St Ives saw more than 80% of residents vote to reserve new homes for full-time residents only. The ban was upheld later that year by the High Court.

Despite the hostility towards second home owners, 26% of participants in the Away Resorts study want a holiday home in the South West, closely followed by the South East with 16%.

The rising popularity of caravans and lodges

The majority (37%) of those polled in the Away Resorts survey voted caravans and lodges as their preferred choice of holiday home, beating bricks-and-mortar style choices such as flats and houses.

Some predict huge growth in the number of caravan and motor homes in the next few years, with analysis by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) – commissioned by the Caravan and Motorhome Club in 2017 – finding that the number in use could rise to 807,000 by 2022, and up to 889,000 by 2030.

One of the main reasons for this growth could be the wide variety of activities that are available in holiday parks, with caravans and lodges in these locations offering a wide variety of extras and on-site entertainment that a bricks-and-mortar property rarely provides. This might persuade people to purchase a lodge or caravan as a holiday home rather than a house or flat with poor access to activities and entertainment.

Things might change once the outcome of Brexit becomes clearer, but for now staycations are having their moment in the sun – with caravans and lodges in particularly high demand.  

Share this article ...

Join the conversation: Login and have your say

Want to comment on this story? Our focus is on providing a platform for you to share your insights and views and we welcome contributions. All comments are screened using specialist software and may be reviewed by our editorial team before publication. Property Investor Today reserves the right to edit, withhold or delete comments that violate our guidelines, including those that harass, degrade, or intimidate others. Users who post such content may be banned from commenting.
By commenting, you agree to our Commenting Terms of Use.
Recommended for you
Related Articles
There are some locations offering incentives to British investor buyers...
The PBSA analysis has been undertaken by Knight Frank...
New data from Hamptons shows a massive rise in service...
Spain’s draconian new tax is already spooking British investors...
The Budget has forced a revision of forecasts for the...
Prices and sales volumes will grow in 2025 despite the...
Recommended for you
Latest Features
There are some locations offering incentives to British investor buyers...
The market is strong ahead of the April stamp duty...
The PBSA analysis has been undertaken by Knight Frank...
Sponsored Content
As the property industry shifts towards sustainable practices, Inspired Property...
Are you concerned about rising interest rates and their potential...
In the ever-evolving landscape of property investment, staying ahead of...

Send to a friend

In order to send this article to a friend you must first login. Click on the button below to login or sign up.

No one likes pop-ups ...
But while you're here