A million eastern European immigrants have come to the UK since 2004 and there are Poles living in every local authority in Britain, research by the Institute for Public Policy Research claims.

A permanent (long term) boost to the UK property market then, similar to that provided by other large-scale immigrant numbers in the past? Poles are now represent the biggest foreign national community in the UK and many now have UK citizenship, the report said.

And while 50% of the one million migrants to the UK are said to have returned home, only 40% of migrants currently here think better job prospects will slow the flow.

"Four in 10 of the returned Polish migrants we surveyed think that better employment prospects in Poland would encourage Poles living in the UK to return to Poland for good," said the research team said.

The pound's devaluation in relation to the Polish currency will narrow the gap between potential earning in Britain and Poland, while the pool of possible migrants is set to shrink due to lower birth rates in the mid-1980s.

So - is this a a win win situation for the long term prospects of both the UK property market (500k or so extra people and therefore increased demand for property), and also for CEE with 500K people returning, and increasing demand for housing?

cheers

There's also the Polish Govt's tax amnesty to consider.
Another reason to return home and keep more of their foreign earnings

A definite boost for the Polish property market I would say. But then, I often take a simplistic view!

Half a million people heading home after a few years away with hard earned pounds in their pockets - a large chunk MUST go to property - either renting or buying - right?

If migrants are returning home presumably reduced rental demand in the UK as the majority rent, so reduced rental returns for UK investors unless they are replaced by migrants from other countries?

Or replaced by potential first time buyers who can no longer source finance, Paul?

Hi

This is a definite boost for the Polish housing market. Figures released yesterday by the The Institute for Public Policy research reported that the largest number of the 1 million migrants came from Poland - accounting for more than two-thirds of all worker registrations.


More than 80% of the migrants were aged between 18 and 34, with 93% registered having no dependents living with them. This indicates a young work force with no dependents returning home to improved opportunities in their home country. This age group also fits the first time buyer profile and there is no doubt the return of hundreds of thousands of young people will have a positive effect on the housing market

Noreen