The share of Londoners transferring away from the capital has fallen to its lowest level in 12 years, evaluation by Hamptons has proven.
More employers requiring workers to return to the workplace has been a significant component, mixed with slower home worth progress in the capital, which has curbed the shopping for energy of would-be London leavers, the company discovered.
Hamptons’ calculations based mostly on Countrywide information, present that Londoners purchased 5.3% of properties offered exterior the capital in the primary seven months of 2025 – the lowest share since 2013.
Compared to the newest peak in 2021, the quantity of properties purchased by London leavers exterior the capital has halved, from 63,600 to 31,620 in the yr to the tip of July in contrast with the corresponding interval.
However, these transferring from inner-London properties made up a document 30% of all these leaving the capital this yr, up from 25% a decade in the past.
But these sellers are getting considerably smaller floorplans for his or her cash after they transfer away from the capital – with the sq. footage that they’ll afford shrinking by 32% on common – the equal of two double bedrooms.
Dartford topped the listing of hotspots for London leavers in 2025, with buyers from the capital accounting for 67% of all purchases.
Second on the listing was Epping Forest the place 62% of buyers have been London leavers.
Tandridge was the third hottest spot with London leavers making up 61% of all buyers, adopted by Thurrock with 59% and Hertsmere with 54%.
Hamptons head of analysis (*12*) Beveridge says: “London’s housing market has been treading water for a lot of the final decade, and that’s now shaping migration patterns.
“The return to the workplace has performed a task in curbing the urge for food for long-distance strikes, but it surely’s the shortage of worth progress in the capital that’s actually clipped the wings of would-be leavers.
“Many London owners merely haven’t constructed up sufficient fairness to make the leap to the place they wish to go, particularly as costs exterior the capital have continued to climb.
“The result’s fewer strikes, shorter distances, and a rising concentrate on affordability over aspiration.
“We’re seeing a transparent shift in the place Londoners are heading.
“The pandemic pushed buyers into leafier, extra lifestyle-driven places, however right this moment’s movers are extra pragmatic.
“Places like Dartford and Thurrock are topping the listing—not simply because they’re commutable, however as a result of they provide higher worth, significantly for first-time buyers.
“In an indication of the occasions, the dream of doubling your house nonetheless exists, but it surely’s not a given.
“Buyers are having to compromise, and that’s reshaping the map of London outmigration.”
