Rental yield and proximity to the airport don’t even come close to the top of the list of considerations for Britons buying abroad, who place good old fashioned sunshine as their number one factor, reports property investment company, Assetz.

Good weather was voted the most important priority by a remarkable 37% of those polled, followed by security, which is ranked as the most important factor by 19%. Standard, isolated villas are becoming less popular with British investors who prefer gated developments that they can ‘lock up and leave’.

However strong the desire to have lots of sunshine, Britons don’t always want to lounge on the beach. Proximity to a town is also high on the list, with 17% rating it as the most important factor, compared to just 5% citing proximity to a beach as the number one priority. A notable shift is taking place away from the traditional ‘seaside’ holiday home locations, in favour of being able to walk into the town and take advantage of the shops, restaurants and culture on offer.

Stuart Law, managing director of Assetz said: "The pressures of the modern lifestyle and longer working hours mean that people can only pop away for short periods of time and they want to make the most of it."

"Roasting on the beach for days on end is no longer enough for today’s sophisticated holiday home owner, who is often looking for a taste of the ‘village life’ that is still abundant in countries such as France and Spain but which is becoming rarer in the UK."

A significant 59% of those polled considered the primary purpose of their property abroad to be rental income to cover mortgage repayments or as a supplement to their primary income.

Stuart Law continued: "The majority of holiday home purchasers intend to rent out the property for rental income for most of the year, while enjoying it themselves for a total of between two weeks and one month per year."

"This is a relatively new trend that has only taken off significantly in the last three years. Previously there was a certain amount of stigma attached to renting a holiday home out on the open market, but today’s investment-savvy purchasers are more likely to be embarrassed by failing to make their investment work for them financially."

"Successful rentals depend upon a good, reliable climate, an abundance of cheap flights and short travelling distances, which explains why Spain and France remain first class choices for any overseas investor."