A recent survey conducted by holiday home specialists Owners Direct has revealed that 50% of Brits in the South East who plan to, or have already rented out their homes for the Olympics games are looking to escape the UK for a Mediterranean break.

But the sexes have been divided; whilst more men said they’d go abroad, more women said they’d bunk with friends. Either way, 40% of home owners surveyed said they would be or have already rented out their main residence for the weeks in July and August during which the games take place.

As a result of increased demand for properties near the Olympic sites next summer, Owners Direct have launched a product specifically to cater to the needs of those looking for short term let options. The service launched at the end of October offers landlords a cost effective way to market their homes to people all over the world seeking accommodation for the event.

46 year old Rochelle Peachey who runs transatlantic dating site I Love Your Accent and her husband have already rented out their four bedroom semi in the Woodford Green area to a Russian family for a total of four weeks during the Olympics and Paralympics.

“We are super close to everything and the opportunity was too good to pass up. I might send my mother in law on a cruise so we can stay in their flat but something more exotic is calling my name – California maybe!”

With over 50% of people who took part in the study who own a holiday home in the South East already having received enquiries for the 2012 games, Marketing Manager Angela Southall was keen to extend their offering to people who didn’t need to list their properties for a long period of time.

“The Olympic Games has generated a huge amount of interest in properties in the South so we have launched a service that will allow homeowners who wouldn’t normally rent out their properties to do so for a short time. We’ve been amazed at how many people are willing to pack up their lives and find a roof elsewhere for a few weeks!”

Of those who are renting out their homes or are planning to, the majority are of the 35-54 age group. With options to take a holiday, move in with friends and family or rent elsewhere, some have said they would happily crash on a mates sofa or hole up in a converted shed or garage with 30% looking at such options. As well as the Med, popular destinations included Northern Europe and America.

The majority of enquiries regarding rental properties are coming from within the UK, with Brits who were lucky enough to get tickets looking to stay close by and make a holiday of the event. The UK was followed by the USA and France.