Best Time of Year to Move House in the UK

The property market is far more active at some periods of the year than others.

This is largely because sellers want to move when it suits them.

So, when is the best time of year to move in the UK?

Reading on to learn more.

When is the property market most active?

A period being active is not the reason a for it being the best time to move.

But its high activity is often caused by it being the best time.

1.Spring

According to Rightmove, the UK’s housing market is most active during Spring.

This rise in activity usually begins in the New Year. It then increases throughout the following few months.

This rise in activity makes spring the best time to sell a house (and the best time sell a flat). This is because there are more buyers to market to.

2.September

Several factors contribute to making September an active period in property.

Sellers with children aim to complete deals before the start of the new school year begins.

Otherpeople list their properties after returning from their Summer holidays. And many owners hope to complete before Christmas.

Is Spring the best season to move house?

Spring is a very convenient time for most people to move house.

This is because it is less busy than the summer and Christmas holidays.

For example, many viewings will take place during the Easter holidays. This because both adults in the family may have time off work.

So, they have the free time to attend viewings and go through their moving house checklists.

Some estate agents argue that properties look more attractive in Spring. Sunlight and blossoming gardens improve properties curb appeal.

What is the ‘January Rush’ in property?

There is a massive increase in enquiries – from both buyers and sellers – in the first two weeks of January. Many of the former also list their properties for sale.

This is sometimes referred to as the ‘January Rush’.

These sellers often initially wanted to wait until after Christmas to do this. But they were too busy with the festive celebrations.

When is the housing market quiet?

The housing market is usually quiet during the summer and Christmas holidays.

Children are home from school during these periods. And families travel abroad. So, it can become very difficult to complete a property transaction.

Families will aim to get the deal completed before the new school year or Christmas holidays. This contributes to Spring and Autumn being the busier periods.

Should I pay attention to the housing market and interest rates?

It is always a good idea to pay attention to the housing market and interest rates.

These are two factors that have an enormous impact on activity in the market, too, on top of the time of year.

New mortgages affordability

Interest rates impact the affordability of a mortgage. When rates are high, mortgages become more expensive.

So, it is more better to hold on to your money and keep earning interest on it. Hence market activity decreasing.

Downsizing

Variable mortgage rates will increase when interest rates rise. So, downsizing becomes more common.

By contrast, if interest rates go down, mortgages become less expensive. So, there is less advantage to money in a savings account and market activity increases.

What day is the most popular to move house?

Data from Reallymoving removals found that Friday is by far the most popular day to move house on.

It gives families the entire weekend to settle in, unpack boxes, etc.

Saturday is the second most popular day to move for similar reasons.

Do removal company prices change depending on the time of year?

According to Pickfords, prices will usually go up in the lead-up to Christmas. This is because there is a major rush to complete all the moves before the holiday season.

This indicates that an increase in moving costs may reflect the busier periods.

Removal companies tend to charge more on the weekends, too. So, arranging the move on a weekday may be a smart idea if you want to keep your removal costs down.

You will need to book time off work to make this possible, though. Also, think about your kids (if applicable) if they are currently in the middle of a school term.

Personal factors to consider when moving house

Personal factors should also play a part in when you move house.

Children

Children impact many property-related decisions. This includes the type of property, its size, location, and more.

For example, carrying out a move while they are in the middle of the school term will be difficult. It makes more sense to time it with school holidays – i.e. Easter, summer or Christmas.