Thousands moving house to ‘escape bad neighbours’

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities

Over 17,000 people will move this year to get away from their neighbours, research by Rightmove shows.

Rightmove’s Consumer Confidence Survey of over 7,000 sellers measured people’s motivations for moving over the next 12 months.

Among the staple property market drivers of death, debt and divorce, 2% of people claimed to be moving because they ‘don’t like their neighbours’.

Rightmove director Miles Shipside said: “Home movers carry out lots of research before they buy their next home, including what prices are being paid in the street and how the accommodation sizes up, but the first time they meet and size up their neighbours is probably after they’ve moved in.

“In the current economic climate where people must work hard to progress, and even hold onto, their careers, we are increasingly looking to our homes as a sanctuary to relax and unwind. If our troubles are persisting when we get home at night due to unruly neighbours then that can present a real problem and is an understandable driver to move on.”

The research also shows that the current market has added an extra ‘D’ to the list of main reasons for people to move. ‘Downsizing’ has now joined death, debt and divorce as a main motivator behind Brits moving home.

Mr Shipside added: “We’re in a changing housing market where generally only those in a financial position to move will do so, either thanks to the equity in their home enabling them to downsize or through having healthy personal finances.

“We have found that over 17,000 people will move this year due to problem neighbours, but that only tells half the story. With transaction levels running at around half of historic norms there could well be the same number of people stuck in their current homes and wishing they could get away!”