Emigration boosting rental market - CPBigwood

A small but growing number of emigrants are offering a surprise boost to the Midlands housing rental market, according to Louise Kean, CPBigwood residential lettings manager.

Instead of selling their UK homes they are opting to let them out.

She said: “It is an interesting development – we are not talking huge numbers but it is a trend we haven’t seen before.

“In some ways it makes life easier for emigrants. They don’t have to either delay their departure waiting for the house to sell or make a life-changing move with all the residual worry about what is happening to the property.

“We manage it, find a suitable tenant, let it out and make sure everything goes smoothly. And if things don’t work out for them in their new country and they decide to return, then their old home is still there for them.”

Ms Kean cited a house in Widney Manor as a good example of what was going on.

She said: “The owner, his wife and two children moved to Australia last year. He was offered a position in the electrical trades and it has worked out for them very well.

“The day after they moved out we had a tenant moving in. He signed up for a year and when he left we had someone else lined up to take over immediately.”

Ms Kean described the property concerned as a character cottage which had been renovated and extended. It comprised three bedrooms, lounge, kitchen/diner and study.

She went on: “The emigrant couple had done all the work themselves, it had taken them several years to get it the way they wanted, and the house was very dear to them.

“The Solihull area is a good location for professionals looking to rent. There is high demand there and we are actively looking for more properties, from one bedroom flats to five bedroom houses.

“And, between our Birmingham city centre, Stratford-upon-Avon and Henley-in-Arden offices we have the team in place to handle extra numbers.”