Friday 29th August is set to be the most popular day to move home in 2025 with four times more households than average planning to move that day. 22,386 moves are expected on this date, making it the busiest day for removal companies. But, home movers wanting a smooth move may want to avoid peak times.
- August is the most popular month. January and February the least popular.
- More than a quarter of households (29%) move on a Friday. Only 5% choose to move on a Sunday.
- 85% of removal firms say delays are more common on busy moving days.
The most popular day to move home this year will be Friday 29th August, according to HomeOwners Alliance and reallymoving. Our analysis of more than 700,000 removal quotes found August has been the most popular month to move for the last 13 years.
According to analysis by HomeOwners Alliance, there are about 2.1 million moves a year in the UK. That's nearly 6000 a day. And this year, the data shows we'll be seeing more than 22,000 moves in just one day - Friday 29th August - making it the busiest day to move. This is four times more than the daily average.
Also, a new survey of removal firms found that 85% of removals firms says that moving day delays are more likely to occur on busy moving days. According to removal firms, the main causes of moving day delays are:
- Delays in the transfer of funds by the conveyancer/ banking system on completion day (88%)
- Keys not being released in time by the estate agent or seller (69%)
- Delays in the property chain causing a knock-on effect (67%)
- The seller not moving out on time (41%)
- The client not being fully packed up and ready to move (14%)
Commenting on the data, Chief Executive of the HomeOwners Alliance, Paula Higgins, says:
“Friday 29th August will be the year’s busiest moving day - but that also means the most stressful. If you can, avoid the rush. Moving midweek or outside peak season can save you money and hassle. If you must move on a busy day, confirm your removals firm early and have a backup plan in case of delays.”
Rob Houghton, CEO of reallymoving, adds:
"Moving on the busiest day of the year means there will be more competition for removal services, so make sure you’re well prepared and that everyone in the chain knows you’re aiming for that date. Ask the removals company to visit your home to assess how much you need to move, or as a minimum do a detailed video survey over WhatsApp or FaceTime to make sure you get the right size van and team on the day.”
Ian Studd, Director General, British Association of Removers, says:
“For a smooth move—especially on the busiest day of the year—get a contract in place with your removal firm. This should include a survey and a clear move plan outlining what happens when, and the responsibilities of both you and the mover. A successful move depends on everyone doing their part.”
Tips on avoiding moving day delays:
- Avoid moving on the busiest days of the year if you can. You are more likely to avoid moving day delays and are likely to be able to get a better price by moving on a less busy day of the week. See our guide to house removals costs.
- If you're going to be moving this August, remember things are not only busier but it is traditionally a time to take holidays. Get quotes for removals firms as soon as possible and appoint them after exchanging contracts. Here are more tips on how to find the right removals company.
- Follow the advice from removal firms: Be prepared for a delay and have a plan B, especially if you are in a chain. Check the size of your chain. The more properties in the chain - the higher the risk of delays. Contact your solicitor first thing to ensure you are at the top of their list of completions.
Key Findings:
The figures are based on 711,531 removals quotes collected by reallymoving.com over the last 13 years. This data shows that:
- August is the most popular month to move (12%), followed by July and September (10%). Nearly a third of moves (32%) happen late summer/ early autumn.
- Friday is by far and away the most popular day of the week to move. More than a quarter (29%) select Friday for their move.
- The last Friday in August tends to be the busiest day of the year to move.
