Moving home still tops the stress level chart – beating having a baby, marriage and job interviews

52% of the nation feel moving home is one of the most stressful life events and with the additional requirements of social distancing and other pandemic based procedures, it’s just got a whole lot more stressful. When it comes to moving, 28% find it more stressful than having a baby, getting married, going to job interviews, doing a driving test. It also beats waiting for what was the biggest elephant in the room to leave until COVID-19 arrived – Brexit.

One of the reasons for this, according to new research by the home setup service Just Move In is, 44% of movers spend up to three hours just swapping their utilities over.

Just Move In reduces the stress and hassle of the home moving process by recommending the best essential services and doing the leg work for you. Freeing you up to focus on the important parts of moving, like remembering to take the kids, face masks and hand sanitiser with you.

The latest survey of home movers by Just Move In found that 52% of those asked ranked moving home at an eight or above on a scale of one to 10 when asked how stressful they found moving – with 10 being the most stressful.

When looking at the most stressful aspects of moving home itself, 49% of people found packing the most stressful part, followed by transferring your services and updating existing utility providers (27%).

With everything that needs organising for a smooth and successful home move, it comes as no surprise that transferring services and utilities ranks so highly, with 44% of movers spending over 30 minutes on the phone to each supplier. With council tax, water and sewerage, gas and electricity, TV and broadband, phone and insurance as a minimum, that’s more than three hours spent on the phone. Time that could be spent on other things – like binge watching Netflix.

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most stressful, how stressful was moving home?
How stressful
% of respondents
1
1%
2
2%
3
4%
4
4%
5
8%
6
10%
7
18%
8
27%
9
13%
10
12%
Rank the following on which you have found the most stressful
Life Event
% of times ranked 1st
Moving home
28%
Job Interview
21%
Driving Test
20%
Having a baby
16%
Getting Married
11%
Waiting for Brexit
5%
Thinking about moving to a new home, what was it that you found most stressful?
Task/activity
% of respondents
Packing
49%
Setting up new services (e.g. internet) in my new home and updating my address with current utility providers
27%
Organising a removal service
10%
Updating friends and family with my new address
1%
Other
13%
How much time would you typically spend calling your council, water and sewerage provider, gas and electricity provider, TV and broadband provider, phone provider and insurance providers?
Time taken
% of respondents
Less than 10 mins
8%
Between 10 and 30 mins
34%
Over 30 mins
44%
N/A as I did this online
14%

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

Are ‘for sale’ boards becoming obsolete?

Earlier this year, Westminster Council announced that it would apply to ban estate agents from displaying sales boards outside residential properties in the local area; now, Epping Forest Council is the latest to follow suit. With this in mind, Jack Malnick, Property Expert and Managing Director at Sell House Fast has shared his thoughts on…
Read More
Christmas Decorations - Good or Bad for Selling
Breaking News

A More Affordable Christmas for Homebuyers

The latest research from award-winning mortgage adviser, Alexander Hall, has revealed that – despite the government failing to leave any affordability-focused initiatives under the tree in the recent Autumn Budget – this Christmas is shaping up to be a far more positive one for the nation’s homebuyers, as borrowers entering the market today are benefitting…
Read More
buying at auction uk
Breaking News

Most active property markets in 2025 revealed

Scotland and Yorkshire home to UK’s most active property markets in 2025 The latest research from The Property DriveBuy reveals that Scotland and Yorkshire have been home to the UK’s most active housing markets in 2025, with Birmingham, Somerset, Cornwall and Buckinghamshire also ranking within the top 10. The Property DriveBuy has analysed the latest…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

The Renters’ Rights Act: turning change into advantage

The private rental sector is entering a period of unprecedented change. For estate agents, the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 taking effect from May is not just another piece of legislation – it will reshape how you advise landlords, manage tenancies and maintain compliance. Mustafa Sidki of the real estate team at Thackray Williams explains how…
Read More
Christmas Decorations - Good or Bad for Selling
Breaking News

Lower mortgage rates help Santa deliver 600 more toys this Christmas

With Christmas fast approaching, falling mortgage rates could be doing more than easing household finances this festive season. In fact, if Santa himself were to secure a mortgage on the North Pole today, he would be saving more than £2,000 a year on his monthly mortgage repayments compared to taking out the same mortgage at…
Read More
Christmas Decorations - Good or Bad for Selling
Breaking News

Has your property paid for Christmas this year?

The latest research from Yopa has revealed that, despite a quieter year for the UK property market, the vast majority of homeowners will have effectively seen their property pay for Christmas, based on the increase in the average house price versus the average festive spend. Yopa analysed house price growth since the start of the…
Read More