Stay in your property for the long haul if you want to reap the rewards

Homebuyers in the UK should plan to keep their property for at least nine years to avoid making a loss on their investment, while Londoners can expect to make a return in far less time, according to new research by Middleton Advisors

- Charlotte Duck

A greater number and higher turnover of homes in the capital means the optimum duration for ownership tends to be shorter than in other more rural parts of the UK.

“If you’re lucky, the cycle can be shorter in London than it tends to be in the country,” says managing director Mark Parkinson. “London behaves much more like an index and can have more turnover, as there is a higher volume of similar supply compared to the country market.”

With a high percentage of first-time buyers and second-steppers, most Londoners don’t tend to stay in their properties for anywhere near nine years, as their requirements and needs change during this period.