Two-thirds of homebuyers say the experience of buying and selling a property has put them off moving again, according to new research from the Open Property Data Association (OPDA).
The study found that 66% of recent movers are reluctant to go through the process again, with one in five saying they have been significantly deterred after navigating what many describe as a slow and stressful system.
Reluctance is even higher among second steppers. Some 73% of those aged 35–44 said the experience has put them off moving again, raising concerns about reduced mobility in a key segment of the market.
The findings point to a growing bottleneck in housing supply, particularly for first-time buyers, as fewer existing homeowners look to move up the ladder.
CONSTANT FRICTION
The research, based on a survey of 5,000 home movers, highlights persistent friction in the transaction process. Delays in exchanging contracts, repeated requests for information and a lack of communication remain common issues.
Transaction times are also stretching. The average time to complete a sale after an offer is accepted now stands at 135 days, up from 93 days in 2019, reinforcing concerns around system inefficiency.
A third of respondents (34%) said the difficulty of moving had impacted family plans, while 31% said it had affected career decisions. More than a quarter (28%) said it had influenced plans to downsize later in life.
ALARM BELLS
Maria Harris, Chair of the OPDA, says: “These findings are a major alarm bell for the housing sector.
“If so many people are reluctant to move again, it’s going to have a significant impact on housing supply, worsening mobility, particularly for those already struggling at the bottom of the housing ladder.
“The current system in the UK is broken and needs deep structural reform. Embracing smart data will transform how we buy and sell property. With more upfront information and industry wide standards, we can deliver faster transactions, fewer fall throughs, and greater transparency.”
SMART DATA
The OPDA is pushing for wider adoption of “smart data” to modernise the homebuying process, arguing that better upfront information sharing and standardisation could reduce delays and fall-throughs.
Government backing for the approach is growing. Its Smart Data Strategy, published last month, estimates that applying smart data to homebuying could generate £14.1bn in net social value and contribute £2.06bn annually to UK GDP by 2043.
BETTER AND HAPPIER
Phil Spencer (main picture), property expert and Founder of property advice website Move iQ, adds: “We all know moving home is a stressful experience. But these findings suggest the process is so bad most people would rather stay put than contemplate moving again.
“Buying a new house should be exciting, not stressful. Digitalisation has transformed so many elements of our lives for the better, and the housing market needs to move out of the dark ages.
“A system built on smart data would make life better and happier for buyers, sellers and property professionals.”
