Neighbours make people move

Nightmare neighbours are among the top reasons why people are looking to move home, a survey has found.

Lifestyle issues are the biggest drivers for people upping sticks rather than the prospect of making financial gains from the property market, the research suggests.

The three biggest reasons driving people’s decisions to move were found to be changing jobs (17%), disliking their neighbours (12%) and preparing for a family (12%), according to a survey from AA Financial Services.

While one in 10 (10%) of those quizzed are moving in order to be closer to family, 7% are doing so to make money on property.

Nearly one in four (24%) of the people surveyed are planning to move in the next two years – either by renting or buying a property.

And 24% of those who are currently renting and planning to move will look to buy their own home.

Among women, disagreeable neighbours emerged as the top reason behind plans to move.

Women were almost twice as likely as men to say that was why they were seeking pastures new, at 15% versus 9%.

People aged over 45 and living in northern regions were also particularly likely to be motivated to move to get away from their neighbours, the survey of more than 2,100 people across Britain suggested.