Pandemic leads to significant work-from-home shift, but office still needed

• London First/​JLL snapshot poll highlights profound shift in future working habits as result of Covid
• Respondents rank personal outdoor space, broadband speed, and private workspace as most important features of a home 
• 1 in 4 plan to move away from central urban areas in the next two years, as a result of the pandemic.

A snapshot poll by London First and real estate company JLL out today (Wednesday) highlights the profound impact Covid-19 is expected to have on future working patterns with 92% of people polled saying they intend to work at least one day a week from home over the next two years, compared with 36% before the pandemic. 

The poll, of more than 150 people across England during the latest lockdown, revealed that before the pandemic a quarter (24%) of respondents had never worked from home, and a further 39% worked less than a day a week. But looking ahead, the proportion of home-working is expected to increase sharply in the next two years, with 40% saying they will work from home 1 – 2 days a week, and a further 46% saying they will look to work from home 3 – 4 days a week. The majority of respondents will still return to the office at least one day a week, with roughly the same proportion as before the pandemic expecting to work from home permanently. 

The survey also highlights the desire for a more ​‘user-friendly’ home, with personal outdoor space (72%), broadband speed (85%) and private workspace (72%) ranked as the three most important features. In addition, two-thirds (68%) of people now say that proximity to public green space is now very important, compared with just 31% pre-pandemic.

Commenting, Stephanie Pollitt, Programme Director for Housing at London First, said:

“The pandemic has laid bare the urgent need for good quality, affordable housing which fulfils a number of people’s needs from practical considerations like faster broadband to access to outdoor space for physical and mental wellbeing. 

“While more people will choose to work flexibly from home, more often, it’s clear that the workplace will remain an important hub for collaboration with the vast majority intending to return for at least a day a week. 

“It is important that the industry plans for the shift to more homeworking, with housing developments that provide a place to work, rest and play, including good access to outdoor space.”

The key findings in the poll, undertaken just as lockdown began, are:

• Before the pandemic, 24% of those surveyed said they would never work from home, compared to 39% who worked from home less than one day a week, 27% for 1 – 2 days, 4% 3 – 4 days, and 6% who always worked from home
• After the pandemic, just 5% plan to never work from home, with 2% working less than one day a week from home, 40% 1 – 2 days, 46% 3 – 4 days, and 7% every day.
• The most important aspects for people’s living space as a result of the pandemic, were broadband speed (85%, up from 31% pre-pandemic); personal outdoor space (72%, up from 36%); and private workspace (72%, up from 13%);
• Being close to local garden space or a park is very important for 67.5% of people responding, up from 31%;
• Proximity to public transport has become less important due to the collapse in commuting to work, with 22% viewing it as very important, down from 47% pre-pandemic;
• More than 1 in 4 plan to move away from central urban areas in the next two years (26%). 15% plan to move to within the same area, 5% plan to move into a central urban area, and 54% don’t plan to move;
• 58% of people are considering making updates to their home, such as a home office or a gym.

Nick Whitten, JLL Head of UK Living Research added:

“COVID-19 has accelerated a trend which is making our homes the centre of our lives once again. The significant increase in our time spent in our homes means that what we need from our homes is also changing. Housing delivery in the UK must adapt to ensure homes are equipped for increased working as well as increased use for leisure purposes. 

“However, it seems highly unlikely that the COVID pandemic will trigger a wide-scale de-urbanisation trend as people do still want access to all the riches that city centres can offer, albeit less frequently. It seems more likely that city populations may re-distribute and this points to a suburban shift, with locations previously dismissed due to inferior transport connections — but otherwise having desirable housing stock — potentially experiencing a demand boost over the next few years.”