London exodus??

[Newdonewhugh]

Has anyone else noticed that their Town has a lot of people moving from London?
Are local Town and village FB pages literally have 2/3/4 people a day joining and posting with the likes of “I’m moving to ..... from London next week, can anyone help me with X,Y,Z”
My Sister and others said they’ve noticed it too.
We live in South Coast.
I just wonder what this New World will look like. What will happen to London?

@kurtainwoz

In the end, they’ll do what’s best for the business.

100% the question is whether the huge swanky architect designed offices with free gyms, multiple subsided restaurants will represent good value or do they want a smaller footprint.

I reckon people will want this again. When this shitshow is over top employees / earners will appreciate this even more. A way to attract talent.

Those that jumped early may well regret it.

@kurtainwoz

In the end, they’ll do what’s best for the business.

100% the question is whether the huge swanky architect designed offices with free gyms, multiple subsided restaurants will represent good value or do they want a smaller footprint.

Cost over image? Why is that so relevant now, when it wasn't particularly before?

Languishing on bloody zoom will be forgotten. It was ok at the beginning like a teen appreciating a lie in. But we like stuff and interactivity in exciting places (I really am over this lockdown!)

Local village to me, fair number of London commuters from before pandemic. This summer/autumn 12 houses for sale. Priced 700k -3million all gone to Londoners within very short selling period(days rather than weeks). Only houses currently for sale have been for a while and are in the 350k range.

We have suffered from the scourge of the DFL (down from London-er) for years. We live in trendy Hastings and St Leonards which is very popular with the new yuppies. They have pushed up property prices ridiculously.
At the moment there is a ridiculously overpriced house in warrior square which rattles on about beautiful views etc - yeah, of the junkies shooting up and fighting in the gardens

@hopingforonlychild I know that, hence why I wonder if it's cyclical. I don't believe everyone will leave London, I have no plans too. However I think more may then in recent years.

I completely agree that 3 days commuting will = 5 however I know my neighbours have done it because for 1.2m they want the big house with the off street parking etc

[quote kurtainwoz]@IcedPurple nowhere have I said there will be no need for an office or 100% remote working.

www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/linklaters-lawyers-to-work-remotely-up-to-half-of-the-time/5105415.article

[/quote]
Let's check back with them 2 years from now.

You live in trendy Hastings?!

@OwlBeThere

No: but I live in Wales.

😂😂😂

@sally067 I just think it's naive to assume that all those people who are moving out haven't got agreements in place.

Linklaters may say you can work from home as much as you want but if you have a client meeting every day can you?

the question is whether the huge swanky architect designed offices with free gyms, multiple subsided restaurants will represent good value

Well networking and winning work is easier working F2F in the city. Swanky offices are always a draw for the brightest new recruits, who, by all accounts are the ones most struggling working from home. Whatever keeps them competitive, they’ll go with. I suspect in 2 years time these premises will be as sought after as ever. Time will tell.

Houses selling really easily in my part of London so some people are staying.

@IcedPurple I may be gone by then! 🤣

I reckon people will want this again.

Some will, some won't. DH misses it because it has a short tube journey. My friend who spends a ton on travel & cant do many school pickups & works for one of the Big 4 prefers life as it is now.

I reckon this was a blip. Big fancy offices will stay. People will be attracted to nice spaces to work in.

At best people may be able to stay home if there’s no client meetings on.

In 12 months time when 2 of the big accountancy firms are pitching a big tender to the same client, who do you realistically think will get the contract. The team who turn up face to face to do a presentation and establish a connection and raport with the client or the person talking through Zoom who is efficient but just on a screen?

It will be the face to face pitch because humans relate best to other humans in real life.

As soon as pitches are los, because employees aren't there, they will be summoned back to meet their clients face to face again - regardless of where they now live and regardless of what the employer might be saying right now.

Lower rent costs for having less office space might be attractive right now but if they start to loose the competitive edge by not having staff on site and start to make less £££ things will change. Clients are accepting Zoom meetings for now because it's necessary. It's not what they would choose though once there are other options again.

We have suffered from the scourge of the DFL (down from London-er) for years.

Plenty of these DFLs will be people who moved to London for a few years & now moving closer to family!

I reckon this was a blip. Big fancy offices will stay. People will be attracted to nice spaces to work in.

They will & of course it's incentive to work there so they will never disappear completely but maybe just not so big.

However I still think in pitching people like to show off. And big and fancy will still play a role. Why downsize? Really when this is over the same marketing value is there.

Have Linklaters ended main office lease? (Since you put that article)

That was to Kurtain

@MarshaBradyo

I reckon this was a blip. Big fancy offices will stay. People will be attracted to nice spaces to work in.

At best people may be able to stay home if there’s no client meetings on.

Yes, I think there will probably be more flexibility regarding doing admin or similar work from home, but I don't think Zoom meetings will be a feature - except maybe for brief, straightforward meetings - when f2f is an option again.

Or maybe that's just me seeing what I want to see as I hate wretched Zoom 'meetings'! I can't say how happy I was to learn that Zoom stocks plunged by 15% on the announcement of the vaccine news last week!

Me too Iced

how happy I was to learn that Zoom stocks plunged by 15% on the announcement of the vaccine news last week!
Haha! That tells you all you need to know about the future of Zoom meetings, despite the protestations on here 😄

None of us know the future however I just think many companies will not go back to 5 days in the office. Why do you think it won't change at all @MarshaBradyo?

I have a friend who's a detective in the Met & even he is looking to shift to more wfh.

One of my friends who does actually work in a office can’t wait to get back.