More than half of homehunters have changed their priorities since the start of the coronavirus lockdown.
We surveyed more than 2,000 buyers and renters to reveal just how much their attitudes have changed since the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, introduced strict measures on 23 March 2020.
Scroll down to find out more.
First up, what are homehunters’ appetites for moving now?
The picture looks promising. An enormous 86% of buyers and renters who intended to move home before the coronavirus crisis took hold still expect to do so.
94% of first-time buyers across the UK remain committed to moving in the next 12 months, with 13% saying the lockdown had accelerated their plans to snap up property.
However, concerns about the impact of coronavirus have hampered some people’s plans. Of those who have delayed their property search, 31% were mindful that house prices may fall, 30% were worried about the UK economy, and 22% were concerned about their employment and household income.
But of all the age groups, it’s young buyers and renters that expect to be most impacted by economic uncertainty, with 61% of under 35s citing concerns about their employment, income and getting a mortgage or deposit.
So what features are homehunters prioritising?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the new property ‘must-have’ is an office. More than one in five of those surveyed (22%) claimed that having an office area has become more of a priority, with this increasing to 34% among those aged between 35 and 49.
Properties that are located close to friends and family (21%), and that offer the ability to do exercise at home (20%), have become more important for homehunters of all ages too.
Interestingly, proximity to pubs and shops has come in further down the ranking, with just 13% of respondents prioritising it.
The survey also revealed that one in five young homehunters (aged under 35) are more likely to strike a compromise on their criteria, such as expanding their search area in order to afford a garden. In contrast, 60% of those aged 35 and over haven’t changed their property priorities at all.
However, it is not just features that are being reassessed. Some 44% of buyers and renters whose criteria have changed now want to be closer to the countryside, parks or the coast.
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What is driving the shift?
Homehunters’ change in lifestyle, and in particular the move to working from home, since the lockdown kicked in has had a major knock-on effect.
Some 34% of buyers and renters anticipate working from home more often, with 85% expecting to spend the same or fewer hours working.
The younger respondents feel the shift more acutely, with 42% of under 65s planning to work from home more often. And more than half of them will commute to work less.
Our survey revealed further lifestyle shifts, with respondents seizing the opportunity to spend more time at home and outdoors.
Tom Parker, consumer spokesperson at Zoopla, explained: “After an extensive lockdown, Brits have become accustomed to spending more time at home, as well as making the most of the outdoor space on their doorstep, which has seen many reassess their home hunting priorities.
“Many of us are now looking at going into the office less often, and socialising more with friends and family at home, instead of heading to pubs and restaurants.
“Meanwhile, spending time in the garden at the weekend looks like the more appealing option for those keen to avoid public spaces like shopping centres and cinemas. This should lead to a positive resetting of the work-life balance of many and, from a buyer perspective, place a new focus on finding a home to accommodate these lifestyle changes.”
How to find your new home
Once you've worked out what you're looking for, register with Zoopla to get instant alerts for exactly your type of property - and save as many searches as you want.
We've got a range of handy tools to help you narrow down your property search too. And if you need any help with property jargon, don't forget to check out our jargon-buster.
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We answer your questions about electric vehicle charging
Convenience: Charge overnight and wake up to a full battery. No flashing fuel lights around here.
Cost savings: Charging an EV at home is generally much cheaper than public EV charging.
Time savings: You take away the need to travel to public EV chargers, saving time and effort.
Smart charging: Many home EV chargers allow you to remotely control your charging and optimise for off-peak rates.
Increased property appeal: A dedicated home EV charger could boost interest in your home when you come to sell.
While electric cars might seem pricey at first glance, you'll want to consider the total cost of ownership. That's the real number, factoring in fuel or EV charging, maintenance, taxes, incentives and future resale value.
There's also the point that EV charging costs aren't as fixed as petrol prices. Think about your charging habits: will you charge at home, work or mostly public EV charging stations? This will impact the overall cost of owning an electric vehicle.
If you're moving house, finding a home already equipped with an EV charger can offset some of the initial costs associated with EV ownership.
The main factor that impacts the cost of charging an EV at home is your electricity tariff. The price you pay per kilowatt-hour (kWh) depends on your energy provider and the specific tariff you’re on. As of May 2025, the average electricity price in the UK is around 27.03 pence per kWh. Off-peak rates can potentially be as low as 7 pence per kWh.
Public charging stations tend to be more expensive, with slower chargers averaging 52 pence per kWh and Rapid or Ultra Rapid chargers averaging 76p per kWh. But many public charging networks offer subscription plans for discounted rates.
EV chargers are a desirable feature for buyers seeking convenience and lower running costs, which means an EV charger can boost interest when selling your home. This can lead to a higher sale price. We expect demand for homes with electric vehicle chargers to rise as EVs continue to gain popularity. While it’s hard to put an exact figure on the value a charger might add to a property, it's still a strong selling point.
40% of UK households don't have driveways, so there's big demand for public EV charging across the country. The good news is that the UK network of public charging stations is growing, reaching 73,000 at the end of 2024. This is a 30% rise since April 2024 according to ZapMap.
Many local councils have initiatives in place to increase the availability of public charge points and community charging hubs. Some offer free EV charging when you use their car parks, and you might be able to submit an online request for an on-street charging point on your council's website.
You can also nominate your street for a charging point through Electric Streets, a campaign run by Vauxhall and local councils to accelerate the availability of public charging in the UK.
Yes, you can although it might take a bit more planning. If you live in a flat, installing a home EV charger is still possible, but you’ll likely need your landlord or building manager’s permission first.
Good news: the UK government offers an EV Chargepoint Grant specifically for renters and flat owners. It can cover up to 75% of the cost of installing a home charger, which helps reduce the upfront expense.
If a home charger isn’t an option, there are now more public charging solutions and shared charging points in residential developments, so you’re not left out. It’s also worth looking for properties with charging already installed to save time and money.
There are a few government backed incentives that can help reduce the cost of going electric whether you’re buying a vehicle or installing a home charger.
If you live in a flat or rent your property, the EV Chargepoint Grant can cover up to 75% of the cost of installing a home charger, up to a maximum of £350. It’s a great way to offset the initial cost and make home charging more affordable.
Find out more about the Electric Vehicle Grant
When it comes to the car itself, while the government no longer offers direct grants for most new EVs, you can still benefit from lower road tax (VED), exemption from London’s Congestion Charge, and attractive salary sacrifice schemes through some employers, which can make EVs more accessible than they first appear.
Incentives may evolve, so it’s worth checking what’s currently available before you buy or install.
Installing an EV charger at home is more straightforward than you might think especially if you have off-street parking like a driveway or garage.
First, you’ll need off-street parking like a driveway or garage. Then, choose a government approved installer who will usually carry out a home survey (either virtual or in person). This helps them check your electrics, identify the best location for the charger, and flag anything that might affect the installation like a long cable run or an older fuse box.
A standard 7.4kW smart charger typically costs between £800 and £1,200 including installation. If you rent or live in a flat, you may qualify for the EV Chargepoint Grant, which can knock up to £350 off that cost. Some energy providers also offer discounts or interest free payment plans.
For home EV charging, you have these options:
7kW smart EV charger: a common and popular option for home charging, this dedicated "fast charging" unit takes about 6-8 hours to fully charge your EV.
22kW ultra fast EV charger: not as popular in UK homes as you'll need to upgrade to ‘three-phase electricity’, which can be expensive, but it allows you to charge your car in about 3-5 hours.
For public EV charging, there are 3 types:
22kW fast public charger: available in places like car parks, supermarkets and service stations, these take 3 hours to fully charge an EV.
50kW rapid public charger: Available at public charging stations, these take 3 hours to go to 80%. They then slow down to protect the health of your car battery.
350kW ultra-rapid public charger: These chargers offer speeds of up to 350kW – although they're not that common and very few EVs on the road today can actually charge at this speed.