A STORAGE company is reporting a surge in business as “London flight” sees people move from the capital to the coast.

Store & Secure says people are moving out of London to seek cheaper properties and a better work-life balance.

Figures from estate agent Hamptons showed that more than 60,000 Londoners bought a home outside of the capital in the first half of last year – the highest number since records began in 2006.

It said that an increase in home working and rising costs in London were the main reasons.

Store & Secure says is has seen business rise in recent months as house sales complete.

Lucy Maidman, who runs the business with sister Sophie, said: “We have noticed through the summer an increase in people storing possessions because of house moves.

“And the trend of people relocating from London looks like it is continuing. It’s something that has happened since the lockdowns.

“Our facilities in Poole, Bournemouth and Basingstoke are in the areas people are moving to – either commuter towns so they can get to London two or three times a week, or coastal areas.

“Some are buying second homes but most are relocating and when we speak to them they usually say that they no longer need to live in London because they can work from home.

“Some will go into London a couple of times a week, but they are able to move away and save a lot of money.

“They are able to improve their work-life balance and live in nicer areas.

“We anticipate that this trend will continue as hybrid working becomes more established, London costs continue to rise and strikes often mean people can’t commute anyway.”

Store & Secure was founded in 2010 by Brian Maidman, who 30 years before had founded Maidman Removals.

In 2014, the business was sold and two years later a second storage site was opened in Basingstoke.

Brian’s daughters Lucy and Sophie now run the business, which opened a third site, in Hamworthy, earlier this year.