Our How London Lives report shows that plants, green spaces and outdoor areas are of increasing importance to buyers and renters when looking for a home. Londoners are finding new ways to bring more greenery into their lives!
Our How London Lives report is a detailed look at how Londoners' buying and renting habits are changing. We conducted surveys and asked our huge team of property experts across the city for their insights. We combined these results with data from other sources to draw the conclusions found in the report. One of those findings was that London's movers are increasingly interested in 'green therapy'. So what does that mean?
Turf or terrace
40 per cent of Foxtons' renters said that they would pay more for a roof terrace or other form of communal outdoor area. One-sixth said that they would pay extra for a barbecue area, emphasising the importance of the social aspect of their outdoor space. A third of homeowners said that they feel competitive about their gardens, seeking to make the most of their green spaces.
Foxtons has worked closely with Essential Living, whose purpose-built rental apartments have proved a huge success, and include large communal terraces, roof gardens and residents' penthouse floors. The Vantage Point development in Archway boasts stunning terraces that includes barbecues, and even a pizza oven for residents to use.
Outside In
In a city like London, having a garden or outdoor space to yourself is the exception rather than the norm. As a result, the desire for greenery is driving Londoners to 'bring the outside in'. Sales of pot plants are up 20 per cent on last year, with Topshop now selling plants for the home, and IKEA exhibiting its plants at the Chelsea Flower Show for the first time ever.
The trend for all things tropical has perhaps also contributed to the increase in foliage in London's homes. We've seen some spectacular examples of tropical prints combined with plants and flowers, combining varied hues of green, exotic colours and striking shapes to maximum effect.
Park life
Another side of Londoners' increasing appetite for all things green is the growing interest in fitness and wellbeing. People are looking beyond the gym to find open spaces for exercise that appeal to all the senses. There are now 50 ParkRuns across the city and over 3 million runs were tracked on the Strava app around London last year.
The importance of pets was also noted in the How London Lies report, with two-thirds of our lettings negotiators saying that keeping a pet is an important factor when choosing a rental property. Almost eight out of ten said that they had noticed an increase in the number of renters looking for pet-friendly accommodation.
Check out pet friendly London apartments here.
Click here to read the full report for more insights about London's Mindful Movers. For more information on London property prices, use our living in guides.
