NORTH-EAST renters are keen to move into properties with a garden, according to Zoopla. 

Priorities for renters have changed with the times, with gardens, balconies and pet-friendly home now being deal-breakers.

The real estate company found that having a garden tops the list as one of the most desirable features to have in a rental home - a trend that’s risen in both the rental and buying market with a recent study revealing the price of homes with gardens has hit a four-year high.

A garden is one of the most searched-for features in the North-East, which ranks first overall in the UK. Parking is the second most searched-for feature when looking for a rental, followed by a garage.

Parking and a garage rank as the second and third most searched-for features, with some people perhaps planning on turning a garage into an at-home gym, with equipment sales spiking a massive 5, 813 per cent in the first England-wide lockdown.

Alongside a garden, another high-ranking feature for rental properties is a balcony.

Searches for pet-friendly rentals rank fifth overall, with renters across the country unwilling to give up their furry friends.

Tom Parker, Consumer Expert at Zoopla says: “Last year was a year of unprecedented change in all aspects of life, such as how we work, socialise and relax, all now take place in our homes.

"The priorities that renters once looked for pre-lockdown may have changed to match the times we’ve been living in, particularly with gardens having become the most desirable feature across the whole of the UK.

“With the growth in the market, it’s key to highlight the requirements renters are searching for. For example, a pet-friendly rental ranked as the fifth most searched feature, but only 7 per cent of landlords currently advertise homes suitable for pets. We hope showing what renters want will help the rental market continue to adjust through these changing times.” 

Take a look inside one of the most viewed properties in the North-East with a garden:

The Northern Echo: Picture: Zoopla/GLS Properties Picture: Zoopla/GLS Properties

This five-bedroom detached bungalow in Burniston, a quiet village approximately four miles North of Scarborough, is one of the top five most viewed properties in the North-East with a garden on Zoopla.

The Northern Echo: Picture: Zoopla/GLS PropertiesPicture: Zoopla/GLS Properties

The desirable property, which was recently snapped up via GLS Properties, has an open plan living, a large garden and double garage.The Northern Echo: Picture: Zoopla/GLS PropertiesPicture: Zoopla/GLS Properties

It has a large open plan kitchen, dining room, lounge downstairs, bathroom and two bedrooms with a further three bedrooms and a separate WC upstairs.

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo: Picture: Zoopla/GLS PropertiesPicture: Zoopla/GLS Properties

There is a large garden which wraps around two sides of the property, small enclosed garden to the front and double garage with parking in front.

The Northern Echo: