Exeter among UK’s most move-friendly cities

Exeter has been ranked among the UK’s least stressful cities to move to, according to new research.

With summer being the most popular season for moving house in the UK, and the average cost of a move now exceeding £14,000, choosing the right location has never been more important.

The study looked at real-life factors that affect how smooth or stressful a move can be, including van hire availability, local self-storage options, chain-free housing supply, and the availability of short-term lets.

Exeter scored 74 out of 100 in the national "move-friendliness" index, placing it in joint 10th position alongside Inverness, Lancaster and Ripon. Other top-ranked cities included Salford, Cambridge and Chichester.

At the other end of the scale, cities such as Newport, Preston and Belfast were ranked among the most stressful places to move to, mainly due to limited access to key moving resources.

Matthew Wallace, Moving Expert at Pay Less for Storage which carried out the research, said the aim was to measure the practical hurdles people face when relocating.

“We looked at the things that actually trip people up — can you get a van when you need one? Is there storage nearby if your dates don’t line up? Are there chain-free properties available? These are the pain points that turn a move into a nightmare.”

Exeter’s high score reflects a strong combination of moving infrastructure, housing flexibility and short-term rental availability, making it an attractive option for anyone looking to settle in the South West with minimal hassle.

With thousands of people moving homes across the UK this summer, Exeter is proving to be one of the easier and more convenient cities to make a fresh start.