A survey by the Housing Industry Association shows that the demands of working-from-home are changing what many home-buyers are looking for.

According to the survey, which took place in August, 44% of builders reported that they had seen a change in demand. Study nooks and home office spaces were at the top of the list, but customers were also looking for additional living areas.

Home owners don’t need one home office anymore – now they need two. Couples with no children are buying three bedroom homes and apartments just to have enough space to facilitate working from home.

However, Tim Reardon, Chief Economist at the HIA is skeptical about how long this demand will last. The pandemic has prompted major changes in lifestyle, and reduced expenditure on travel and entertainment has given households more money to spend on housing. But these changes may not stick once the pandemic is beaten.

“What is not clear is, will these preferences remain as the impact of COVID settles over time?” Reardon says.