Superstitious Brits avoid moving house on Friday 13th

Rightmove logo

 

    • Rightmove today (13th September), reveals that people avoid moving on Friday the 13th, despite Friday usually being the busiest day of the week for people collecting the keys to their new home
    • Analysis of data since 1995 reveals Friday the 13th is the quietest day for completions compared to any other Friday
    • What’s more, the 13th day of the month is also the quietest day for completions compared to any other day of the month
    • The superstitions go beyond moving, as houses numbered 13 are valued £5,521 lower than the average of £364,139 across the study
    • Properties numbered one hold the highest average value at £397,632, versus £358,618 for number 13, a difference of over £39,000

 

New home-mover analysis from the UK’s largest property website Rightmove, reveals that people avoid moving on Friday the 13th, despite Friday usually being the busiest day for home moves.

Analysis of data since 1996 reveals Friday the 13th is the quietest day for completions compared to any other Friday. What’s more the 13th day of the month is also the quietest day for completions compared to any other day of the month

The superstitions go beyond moving, as houses numbered 13 are valued £5,521 lower than the average of £364,139 across the study.

The unique study analysed property valuations of over 10 million houses numbered one to 100, with properties numbered 13 typically being valued lowest, suggesting some superstitious buyers are put off owning a home with the traditionally unlucky number.

Houses numbered one are the most sought after – averaging over £39,000 higher (11%) in value at £397,632. While homes with the lucky number seven have an average valuation of £369,770, 3% more than homes with the number 13.

For non-superstitious buyers, homes numbered 13 may present a unique opportunity to secure a more affordable property, potentially turning this ‘unlucky’ number into a lucky bargain.

 

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert says: “Despite the superstitions surrounding the number 13 and Friday the 13th, buyers willing to challenge these traditions could find themselves in a prime position to negotiate better deals. Our data shows that significant discounts are often available on properties with this traditionally unlucky number. With potential savings of over £5,000—money that could be put towards stamp duty or other moving expenses – even the most superstitious buyers might be tempted to overlook the number on the door.”

 

Top 10 most expensive house numbers

 

House number Average property value
1 £397,632
2 £390,630
3 £378,807
4 £378,016
5 £373,948
6 £371,531
7 £369,770
78 £367,818
8 £367,675
76 £366,865

 

Top 10 cheapest house numbers

 

House number Average property value
13 £358,618
21 £359,538
27 £359,561
19 £360,112
23 £360,196
16 £360,228
73 £360,251
83 £360,269
17 £360,350
24 £360,391

Rightmove

UK Property news updates shared directly from Rightmove PLC - the country's leading property portal.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Homebuyers face longer buying timelines

The latest research from Lyons Bowe suggests the homebuying process could become even slower in 2026: as the number of conveyancers operating across the UK is thought to have fallen by almost -13% while transaction volumes rise, placing further pressure on completion timelines. Lyons Bowe has analysed data on the number of active conveyancers in…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 1/4/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Winning the AI Era: A Playbook for UK Estate Agencies The AI-Driven Rewiring of UK Estate Agency Thought Leadership by Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR Real estate has historically been conservative, fragmented, and inefficient. A surge of startups, is introducing automation, data-driven decision-making, and better customer experiences. This…
Read More
Breaking News

What renters and landlords need to know ahead of major rental law changes

With just one month to go until the first phase of the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force, the leading professional body, Propertymark, is urging renters and landlords across England to understand how the changes could affect them. From 1 May 2026, the legislation will introduce some of the biggest changes to the private rented…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Tackling Empty Properties

A UK Perspective on Best Practice and Recommendations for Reform Propertymark, the UK’s leading professional body for property agents, has today published a comprehensive new position paper highlighting the urgent need for coordinated, practical and properly resourced action to bring long-term empty properties back into use. With over 359,000 homes sitting empty for more than…
Read More
Breaking News

Pet-friendly rentals plunge 39%

New research from Inventory Base reveals that the number of pet-friendly rental homes in England has fallen by -39% since the start of 2026, as landlords appear to be reducing the number of homes openly marketed as allowing pets ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act taking effect from 1st May. The Renters’ Rights Act (RRA)…
Read More
Breaking News

Latest Nationwide house price data showing a 2.2% increase

Industry reaction to Nationwide house price data showing UK annual house price growth picked up to 2.2% in March, from 1.0% in February. Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, comments: “An uplift in house prices will be welcomed by the market and suggests that buyer demand remains resilient despite ongoing economic headwinds. Improved sentiment, coupled with…
Read More