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Third of people think moving house is as stressful as a relationship ending

1st September 2014 Print

One in three people in the UK claim that buying a property is either more or as stressful as the end of a serious relationship.

New research conducted on behalf of Ocean Finance reveals that 35% of respondents rate buying a new home and moving into it as an experience that is either as stressful as breaking up with a long-term partner, or more stressful than it. In fact, nearly one in 10 (8.2%) think moving causes more anxiety than the end of an important relationship.

A similar number (31%) think that caring for a sick relative is as or more stressful than moving house. And shockingly, more than one in five (22%) respondents claim buying a property matches or exceeds the death of a relative in terms of stress.

Following the house market crash of 2008, the UK’s property market has shown signs of recovery - with house prices rising across much of the country supported by continuing low interest rates and schemes such as Help to Buy. One in seven (16%) survey respondents reveal they have bought a home in the last five years.

There are many steps to take when purchasing a home, but the one voted as most stressful by those who have bought in the past five years is simply finding a property. More than two-fifths (45%) of people who have bought in the last five years say finding a place they wanted was the most difficult part.

However, despite the recent credit crunch, securing a mortgage is seen as less stressful than moving day itself. Two-fifths (42%) of buyers rate packing and physically moving their belongings as the most stressful thing about moving house, compared to just over a third (37%) who cite applying for a mortgage. Moving also beat negotiating with the sellers on price (41%) in the stress stakes.

Ian Williams, spokesman for Ocean Finance, says: “Buying a house can be incredibly stressful as there’s so much involved – but it’s still surprising to find that some people rate it as more stressful than breaking up with a partner or a loved one dying.

“While finding a suitable home, applying for a mortgage and actually moving can all cause anxiety, the end result is often worth it. Owning your own slice of the property market can be a great feeling – and hopefully it will be a few years before you have to cope with all that stress again.”