A fifth of Brits who ruled themselves out of moving house said stress was the main reason for staying put, research from We Buy Any Home found.
The survey found 19% of those not planning to move named stress and emotional upheaval as the main barrier, while 17% blamed affordability.
Elliot Castle, CEO of We Buy Any Home, said: “There is more to moving than just getting a new house.
“It can be exciting and a new space often brings a new sense of freedom, allowing homeowners to choose somewhere that better suits their needs.
“But it is a long process. Some people wait months or even years for their current house to sell, dealing with buyers changing their minds.”
Castle added: “The market dips and peaks, mortgage rates change, not forgetting the changes to taxes such as Stamp Duty.
“Finding a new property that matches your criteria can be difficult, and then you could be in a chain that means you have to wait for months before you can get your keys.”
The survey also found buyers faced competition for popular homes, rising asking prices and the risk of being gazumped.
Affordability was a concern for many, with 12% pointing to the cost of moving, including legal and removal fees.
Castle said: “Moving house isn’t just as simple as trading one house for another.
“You want to get a reasonable price for your own home, as well as getting an affordable mortgage for your new place.
“On top of this, you might need to do work in your current home to get it ready to sell.”
He added: “You also need to pay for a survey of your new home, pay solicitors’ fees and give an estate agent a cut of the price your house sells for.
“Hiring removal vans, any cleaning costs, maintenance and odd jobs can all carry smaller fees that add up.”
He said: “While some people do find a ‘forever home’ and stay there for years, there must be movement in the market to open doors for others to get on the property ladder.
“We need to look at how we can reform the process – making it simpler, reducing delays and increasing transparency around the finances.
“If we want a healthy, functioning market we need to tackle these emotional and financial barriers head on.”
