Nearly A Third Of Scots Spend Up To 5 Years Searching For A New Home

A survey shows confidence in the property market's grown, with nearly half of renters in Scotland saying they feel 'optimistic' at the prospect of getting on the housing ladder.

Royal Mail commissioned an Ipsos MORI survey of people across the UK who have moved home. 

With over 12,000 respondents, the study is one of the largest investigations into home movers experiences and attitudes towards the property market.
 
The research comes as Royal Mail encourages people across the UK to redirect their mail when moving home in order to protect themselves against identity fraud. If people don't take out a Redirection Service when changing address, their mail is likely to land on their old doorstep, with no control over who opens it or uses the information or contents it contains. A Redirection Service is the best way to ensure that all personal details are taken with you when you move home.
 
Thirty five per cent of home buyers surveyed in Scotland said they waited longer to move than they would have wanted, with 27% of those who waited blaming a shortage of properties.

13% had a previous property fall through and 9% said it took longer than expected to save the deposit. 

43% waited up to a year, with 29% spending between 2 and 5 years looking for their new property.
 
Among homeowners surveyed, 81% were pleased with their new home, with 24% knowing before they even stepped into the house that it was the right home for them.
 
55% of people surveyed who rent a property plan to buy their own home in the future. 48% say they are more optimistic than last year of buying a home in the future. This compares with 10% who say they are more pessimistic. 

The main challenges faced when buying are not being able to save enough for the deposit (28%), being unable to find the right property (23%), earnings not qualifying for a mortgage and being happy to rent (11% each).
 
Among owners and renters surveyed, the main reasons for moving are a bigger house (23%), better area (16%) and to be closer to family (14%).
 
The DVLA (16%), pension providers (14%) and mobile phone companies (13%) were the most forgotten when it came to notifying them about a new address. 20% forgot to tell an old friend, 4% missed off telling their aunts/uncles and 4% their cousins. 

3% forgot to tell their close friend about their new address!