As we highlighted in a recent blog, it appears that UK citizens are showing an increased interest in purchasing property in Europe despite the travel limitations caused by the pandemic and subsequent lockdown.
Ironically, the recent lockdown and a fear of similar restrictions being imposed in the future is one of the principle drivers of a surge in property searches focused on Spain, France and Italy. But are there other factors at play?
Before COVID-19 arrived on European shores in March, Brexit dominated the news headlines. Whilst the importance of the issue may have diminished in the wake of coronavirus, it hasn’t disappeared completely. The significant changes that it will bring are also generating a heightened sense of urgency UK citizens house-hunting abroad. Making a purchase before the transition period ends in December will provide access to the same rights and benefits to those enjoyed by their fellow UK citizens already resident in the EU. Britons living abroad have until 30 June 2021 to apply for residency and even if the UK leaves the EU without a trade deal, they can continue to live, work and travel there if they are resident in the EU before 1 January 2021.
Another reason cited by some UK citizens for wanting to move to the EU is the British government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis. Spanish authorities intend to gradually reopen the country’s borders in July to tourists from elsewhere. However, this access will be denied to travellers from the UK until British coronavirus figures improve. In France, although borders are now open to EU and Schengen countries, British tourists will have to quarantine for 14 days on arrival for the same reason. Meanwhile, Italy is taking a more relaxed approach to visitors from the UK – borders have reopened and there is no requirement for UK arrivals to quarantine. Those Britons who are still making essential trips abroad are currently required to quarantine for 14 days on their return to the UK. Understandably, all these travel restrictions currently in place pose a significant disincentive to those considering house-hunting trips to European countries.
Despite proposed ‘air bridges’ to enable quarantine-free international travel, deep concerns remain over such a move sparking a second wave of COVID-19 infections just as the virus appears to be receding, and it may be some time before UK citizens will be accepted into other countries for non-essential purposes. However, if ‘air bridges’ are introduced, it’s likely that France and Italy will be among the destinations included in the initial phase.
