The busiest day to move house is approaching

The busiest day to move house in 2025 in Britain is set to be Friday, August 29, with four times more households than average planning to move that day.

Some 22,386 moves are expected on this date, making it the busiest day for removal companies, according to the latest research from the Homeowners Alliance (HOA) and moving home portal reallymoving.

The analysis of more than 700,000 removal quotes found August has been the most popular month to move for the last 13 years.

The data shows there are about 2.1 million moves a year in the UK – nearly 6,000 a day.

And this year, there will be more than 22,000 moves in just one day (Friday, August 29), making it four times more than the daily average and the busiest day to move.

Furthermore, a new survey of removal firms found that 85 per cent of removal firms said 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 or banking system on completion day (88 per cent)

*Keys not being released in time by the estate agent or seller (69 per cent)

*Delays in the property chain causing a knock-on effect (67 per cent)

*The seller not moving out on time (41 per cent)

*The client not being fully packed up and ready to move (14 per cent)

Chief executive of the Homeowners Alliance, Paula Higgins, said: “Friday, August 29 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, added: “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.”

And Ian Studd, director general, British Association of Removers (BAR), suggested: “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.”