Millions of Brits are being forced to get rid of personal possessions during house moves, with many later regretting the decision as high property prices limit available space, new research shows.
Survey highlights space crunch
According to a survey of 2,015 UK adults by Access Self Storage, 23% of respondents said there was a lack of suitable homes on the market, while 13% cited price per square foot as a major barrier to moving. The vast majority (81%) reported lacking storage space in their homes, and around half said they had stopped buying personal items because they had no room to store them.
Moving stress
The lack of space makes moving house more stressful. More than a quarter (26%) said finding space and working out where to put things was the most challenging part of moving. For 21%, storing belongings between homes was the most stressful element, and 43% said unpacking and getting organised was the biggest challenge.
Almost half (46%) regretted decisions to part with personal belongings while moving, while 26% tried to take everything with them. A fifth felt under pressure, and 28% wished they had more time to decide whether to keep or discard items.
Impact on buying decisions
Poor storage space was the top factor that would put house hunters off a property (38%), followed by excessive clutter (35%) and poor décor (21%).
Expert advice
UK Property Expert Jonathan Rolande, working with Access Self Storage, said: "With house prices remaining high, many buyers are having to compromise on space, and that's having a real impact on how they live. When you're moving under pressure, it's easy to make quick decisions about your belongings that you later regret.
"The best advice is not to rush. Decluttering doesn't have to mean throwing treasured possessions away, using storage while you move can give you the time and space to make the right decisions, making the whole process far less stressful."
Rolande offered tips: don't rush, take back control, and declutter doesn't mean ditch – use storage.
Jan-Albert Fourie, General Manager of Operations at Access Self Storage, said: "Our research highlights just how much a lack of space is shaping people's lives, from stopping them buying things they want to forcing difficult decisions during a house move. It's telling that so many people regret parting with personal belongings simply because they ran out of room."
