The pandemic and the subsequent lockdown(s) has made many Brits rediscover their love for open, green spaces and a need for a furry companion.
Numerous reports show that the pandemic has prompted an increased number of people to open their homes to pets. According to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association, the UK bought 3.2 million new pets over lockdown, bringing Britain's pet population to 12 million.
It also brought a significant shift to the UK housing market, with city dwellers moving to greener and spacious properties in commuter towns and the countryside.
Data from property specialists, Cornerstone Tax, shows that in the past year, over 3.3 million Brits moved away from a city or urban area, and 44% feel that the pandemic has made living in a city less appealing.
Did lockdown pet boom help create a rush to regions?
Whilst pet ownership might seem like a small reason to move house, the past year has been quite reflective for many in terms of re-evaluating their lifestyle and priorities. With people increasingly looking for ways to overcome social isolation and loneliness and pets providing a welcome companionship, the idea doesn't seem too far-fetched after all.
Moreover, the countryside and its green, open spaces and larger properties, often with a bigger garden, is, in many ways, much more suited to looking after pets than living in a big city.
According to the ONS (Office for National Statistics), one in five properties in London had no access to a garden, courtyard, or any other private or shared outdoor area, and they are 26% smaller than the national average.
This is not conducive to a healthy dog, especially the Labrador-retriever, which needs a lot of space to run and play.
David Hannah, a principal consultant at Cornerstone Tax, feels pet ownership could be a key factor driving people out of the city. He says, “It is now almost common knowledge that many people have left the city looking for more space to live for less money, and our research backs this. We can also see a significant amount of new pet owners.”
“Lockdown has brought with it a myriad of changes to our lifestyles and the past few months have been somewhat of a perfect storm for new additions, especially to a bigger home.”
Get more house for your money in the countryside
Economically too, moving out from the city to the country makes more sense, as you get more living space in the countryside for the cost of your city flat. According to Yes Homebuyers, a property acquisition company based in Chester, if you bought a London property for the same cost as the average house price in England, you would only get 366 square feet of space, by far the smallest of all regions.
Supporting this view, Hannah says, "It is quite possible that life in the country, and going for a morning walk in the beautiful countryside rather than through a sprawling metropolis, is a key image in peoples head while imagining a quieter life in the country. And it seems Brits see pets as part of this image.”
