The desire to leave a 'conventional' property is most prevalent among 35-54 year olds.
Over half of residential property owners in the UK would consider living permanently in an unconventional type of home to escape the pressures of modern life according to a recent survey from BLP Insurance.
The desire to leave a 'conventional' property is most prevalent among 35-54 year olds (61%), with over-55s the least likely to give up their home.
The three most popular alternative types of home are converted buildings (24%), boats (20%) and eco-homes such as houses made of straw bales (19%).
The craving for something more interesting (42%), being cheaper to run (33%) and escaping the hectic nature of urban life (25%) are the most popular reasons for those wanting to make the move.
Phil Harris, director at BLP Insurance, said: “The days when most middle aged homeowners aspired to buy a semi-detached house in a quiet tree lined suburban street could soon be a thing of the past.
"It seems that people approaching their 40s and 50s are looking for a greater level of freedom and adventure and want to try a different type of home away from the suburbs.
“Reflective of a shifting cultural mindset, there is also a definite trend among younger people especially to factor in variables such as environmental impact when choosing a new home.
“It could now be time to invest in an unconventional property as demand increases and people chase the limited supply.”
