Property Prices in the London Commuter Belt Nearly a Quarter Lower than London

With the global pandemic systemically changing how and where people work, more people are moving out of London into the London commuter belt in search of a better quality of living.

Around 65% of workers are set to return to the office in June; therefore, living within a reasonable journey time to the capital is essential. Companies are adopting more flexible way of working, with a balance between working from home and in the office as part of the “new normal”.

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Benefits of London Commuter Belt Property

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The London commuter belt offers a different pace of life, with more access to open green space and property that is better value for money whether you are renting, or, buying and within a quick train journey to the capital.

Working from home has fuelled demand for larger properties with access to outdoor space, driving property buyers and renters out of the city and into the commuter towns around London.

With the opening of Crossrail, known as the Elizabeth Line in 2022, journey times to and across London will be reduced, making commuter towns even more attractive and accessible. Improved transport links will make more towns commutable that also offer excellent value for money, especially for home buyers and renters who have been priced out of the London market.

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London Commute Impact on House Prices

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Analysis of property prices from property portals RightMove and Zoopla across 108 commuter towns with direct transport links to London shows that the average property price within a 20-29 minute commute is £569,270.

The longer the commute, the cheaper the property, but it entails sitting on a train for over an hour, so does not provide the best balance between journey time and cheaper property prices.

Locations with mid-range commutes of 30-49 minutes have average property prices up to 12% less than London within a shorter commute, providing a better balance of affordability and journey time.

The table below displays average property price across commuter towns based on the commute time to London:

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Most Affordable Commuter Locations

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The upcoming town of Chatham in Kent features in the top 10 most affordable commuter locations, with property prices between £230,000 and £270,000 with just a 40-49 minute commute to London.

X1 Chatham Waters is a newly completed developer of luxury and spacious 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments with excellent on site facilities. X1 Chatham Waters is Ideal for owner occupiers looking for luxury waterfront living, or for buy-to-let investors seeking to benefit from the top 10 commuter belt location within an easy commute to Central London.

Benefitting from significant regeneration, Chatham is one of the fastest growing areas in the commuter belt, offering one of the best opportunities for capital growth in the UK by as much as 30% over the next 5 years.

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Property investors can also benefit from a 2 year rental assurance at 6% NET. Click here to find out more.

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