Two in five prospective home buyers have changed what they are looking to buy because of the experience of the covid-19 crisis, according to property search portal Rightmove.

The firm said buyers of new homes are significantly less interested in purchasing flats, as they prioritise gardens and outdoor space. Rightmove said that all of the top five most sought-after properties for both renters and buyers are now houses rather than flats, whereas just before the covid crisis two of the top five were flats.

Rightmove’s housing market analyst Miles Shipside said: “During lockdown people have been re-evaluating what their must-haves are, and both buyers and renters are craving a home with its own outside space rather than a flat.”

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