The best places in Britain for moving house with two Scottish cities in top 10
With more people moving home during the summer than at any other time of year, new research has revealed the UK locations that make life easiest for movers - and two Scottish cities have made the top 10.
According to a study by Pay Less for Storage, Stirling is the best place for relocation in Scotland, ranking seventh overall in the UK-wide list, alongside Manchester and Brighton.
Looking further north, Inverness also made the cut, sharing tenth place with Lancaster, Ripon and Exeter. On the other hand Dundee was named among the worst cities to relocate.
The City of Discovery was the lowest-ranked of all Scottish locations and placed at joint-76th spot alongside Belfast, Preston and Sunderland. Only Newport, Bangor, and Lisburn were rated lower.
The research assessed towns and cities across the UK using five key indicators: availability of van hire; access to storage facilities; number of chain-free properties; short-term rental supply; and available homes per person.
Stirling performed particularly well, with just 4,049 people per storage facility, 2,144 people per van hire location, and 65 people per short-term rental.
It also had 231 people per available home and 39 per cent of properties on the market listed as chain-free, giving it a total score of 76.
Inverness, which scored 74 overall, also made a strong showing. It has 2,929 people per storage facility, 2,604 people per van hire location, and just 24 people per short-term rental, one of the best ratios in the country. It recorded 210 people per available home, though only 16 per cent of properties were listed as chain-free.
Topping the list was Salford, which offered the best access to moving resources. With one storage facility for every 1,347 residents, the best ratio in the country, and plenty of van hire options, the Greater Manchester city also scored well for its supply of chain-free homes and short-term lets. According to the study, Salford offers 'a rare win for stress-free' moving.
The findings were compiled following a detailed analysis of housing and service data, aimed at helping movers make smarter, more manageable decisions during one of life's most demanding events.
'Moving is one of life's biggest stress points, but it doesn't have to be chaotic,' said Matthew Wallace, moving expert at Pay Less for Storage.
'The trick is planning ahead, from booking your van early to thinking about short-term options if timings don't quite line up. Where you move matters, but how you move can matter just as much!'
Top 10 UK locations for moving home
1. Salford (84/100)
2= Chichester (80)
2= Cambridge (80)
4= St Davids (78)
4= Lincoln (78)
4= Durham (78)
7= Manchester (76)
7= Stirling (76)
7= Brighton (76)
10= Inverness (74)
10= Lancaster (74)
10= Ripon (74)
10= Exeter (74)
The worst UK locations for moving home
73= Wolverhampton (44/100)
73= London (44)
75. Newry (42)
76= Dundee (40)
76= Belfast (40)
76= Preston (40)
76= Sunderland (40)
80= Newport (38)
80= Bangor (38)
82. Lisburn (32)
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Three expert tips for a smoother move:
Start packing early and label everything clearly
'One of the biggest causes of moving-day stress is leaving packing too late,' Wallace explained. 'People often underestimate how much time it takes and suddenly you're throwing things into boxes at midnight the night before.
'Starting early means you can pack gradually, stay organised, and spot anything you might want to sell, donate, or throw out. Labelling is just as important. A simple marker pen telling you which room a box belongs in can save hours of hunting around at the other end.
Create a moving-day essentials kit
'It might sound like a small thing, but having a moving-day essentials kit can make a huge difference,' Wallace said.
'I always recommend keeping one bag or box aside with those important items. Think: kettle, tea bags, snacks, toilet roll, important paperwork, chargers, and anything else you'll want as soon as you arrive... oh, and the new house keys will definitely help!'
Check access at both ends
'People often focus so much on packing and timings that they forget one of the most important things: checking access at both ends of the move,' Wallace warned.
'That means knowing where your van can park, whether you need a permit, and if there are any restrictions on the route.
'A quick check beforehand (even test-driving the journey beforehand in your own car) can save you from a lot of unnecessary hassle on moving day.'
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