Home moving costs leap 5%, new research reveals

May 26, 2023

31st August 2023 098 Views

Home moving costs including solicitors’ fees have jumped nearly 5% in the last year, according to new figures.

The latest research from agent Barrows and Forrester reveals that the expense of moving home, such as solicitors, removal hire and self storage, have increased by an average of 4.9%.

Other costs such as cleaning, repairs and furnishings have also climbed during the past 12 months.

The analysis shows the largest increase is in the cost of home moving itself, with an average rise of 4.9%, driven by a 10.5% (£50) jump in the cost of hiring removal services which now averages £528.

A more affordable option is to hire a self-drive van at £71 per day, although this has also seen a 5.1% year on year increase.

On average, the cost of furnishing a home has increased by 4.2% over the last year with the biggest increase being a gas cooker, with an average of £419 after an annual rise of 10.5%,

Electric cookers are close behind with an increase of 10.4%, and remain the more expensive option at £501.

Cleaning costs have increased by 2.6% year on year, and the price of hiring a cleaner has seen the largest jump at 4.4% to an average of £16 per hour.

Window cleaner rates are up by 2.8%, but the price of hiring a carpet cleaner has only risen by 0.6%.

The cost of actually moving to and settling in a new home is going up”

James Forrester, MD, Barrows and Forrester

James Forrester, MD at Barrows and Forrester, says: “House prices might be cooling, but the cost of actually moving to and settling in a new home is going up.

“Inflation is pushing up everything from the price of manufacturing to expenses incurred by tradespeople,” he says.