We looked at the most common terms people used in our keyword search tool over the past 12 months, to identify the things renters want most from their next home.
Having a "garden" is the number search term, closely followed by "parking" and "garage."
Garden, parking and garage are the top most searched keywords almost everywhere in Britain:
What else do renters want?
The fourth most common search term for renters was "balcony".
Considering that roughly half of Brits own a pet, it comes as no surprise that “pets” completed the top five, perhaps reflecting the recent surge in renters who want to find pet-friendly homes.
Having the right flooring was also a priority for renters, as was rent that included household bills and having an ensuite bathroom.
The top 10 also reflected the demand for rental properties among those at university, with “student” the tenth most-searched-for term.
| Rank | Term |
|---|---|
| 1 | garden |
| 2 | parking |
| 3 | garage |
| 4 | balcony |
| 5 | pets |
| 6 | flooring |
| 7 | bills included |
| 8 | ensuite |
| 9 | rural |
| 10 | student |
Why is this happening?
The Covid-19 pandemic has triggered a once in a lifetime reassessment of what people want from their homes.
Lockdowns and social distancing have caused people to put a high premium on having access to outdoor space.
Also, with more of us working from home, living in cities or close to good transport links has become less important. As a result, many homehunters are looking towards more rural locations.
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How to use keyword search
Our Advanced Search allows you to customise your search to find exactly what you need by including must-have features.
Plus, you can put your search term in between quotation marks to search for the exact phrase, such as “double glazing” or “bills included”. You can also exclude terms from your search. For example, you can search -rural if you’re more into the city life.