MORE and more people are deserting Britain for sunnier climes and the exodus is having a knock-on effect on the property market in Kent as estate agent Simon Backhouse explained to .

It’s no surprise that recent figures on the big increase in people buying homes abroad rang a bell with Simon Backhouse.

Simon, a partner at Strutt and Parker, was amazed when he analysed the statistics for his own branch of estate agents in Canterbury.

He said: "We have 50 or so houses on our books at the moment and of those 10 of the owners are moving abroad which is a very high percentage."

Nationally, the number of people who own a second home abroad has nearly doubled in the past two years.

About 800,000 people now have a place in the sun, up 45 per cent since July 2004. The trend is likely to continue with a further three per cent of British households intending to buy a second property abroad some time in the future, while five per cent are thinking of moving to foreign shores altogether.

"Recent figures have shown that the number of people who own a second home abroad has nearly doubled in the past two years - and this has had a knock-on effect on property buying and selling in Kent," said Simon.

"In the main it is retired people because they can get a better or equal home in France or Spain and still have capital to live on. It’s a decent return on their capital.

"Lots of people go on holiday and think, 'This is what I want to do', and sell up."

Nationwide, Spain is the most popular destination. More than four in 10 named it as their preferred destination.

France followed with 26 per cent of people wanting to move there. Australia was the third most popular country with 22 per cent of people preferring to move there; then Italy at 21 per cent and the US at 17 per cent.

Surprisingly, 23 per cent said they were "sick of this country" and wished to leave for a new life.

Simon added a warning to would-be ex pats - do your research otherwise you could end up like some buyers in Spain who discovered that the properties they had bought were on someone else’s land.

Simon said: "Many people are looking for a better lifestyle abroad. Last February/March, after the long cold winter, we had many people on our books who just wanted out. They were finding the climate so depressing.

"Also, it’s very crowded in the south east. You can get away from it all in France or Spain for significantly less money."

Simon finds that many of the sellers are heading for south west France: "Not Provence, but around Carcassonne at the foothills of the Pyrenees."

The emigration has also been boosted, he said, by the proliferation of small airports on the Continent serviced by Easyjet or Ryanair.

He has not yet dealt with anyone wanting to buy in Eastern Europe, like Bulgaria or Romania, which will soon becoming part of the EU. However, he added: "When Poland joined a lot of people were buying agricultural land there. It’s quality land for significantly reduced figures."

He finds that people usually fall into one of two camps: there are those who feel more comfortable in a British ex-pat community, probably in Spain; and those who are more adventurous and want to become part of the indiginous community.

Simon himself favours France: "I would feel more at home there because I know the language, but I love the Italian lifestyle.

"In Spain I would worry about not knowing the lingo and being ripped off by a local builder."

He is also finding that lots of people from other parts of Britain, with a second home in France, are moving to Kent.

Simon explained: "From Kent they can drive to their home in France in a day if they want to keep a foothold in the UK."

Simon also believes that property in the county is very much undervalued compared with Sussex and Surrey.

He adds: "You definitely get more for your money in Kent."