Moving home more stressful than having a baby, survey claims

IT has long been considered among the more taxing life events. But now buying or selling a home has been found to be more stressful than having a baby, changing jobs or getting married.

Only getting divorced is considered to be more distressing than buying or selling a property, a report has claimed, with eight in ten people surveyed describing the experience as stressful.

The survey also asked people if they had experienced other life events and, if they had, it asked them if they had found those events stressful.

Some 70 per cent of people who had sold a house had found it stressful, while 69 per cent of people who had bought a house felt this way, according to the study carried out by Which? Mortgage Advisers.

Arranging care for an elderly relative came close behind in terms of stress, with 68 per cent of people saying they found doing this stressful.

Meanwhile, just over half of people who had had a child said this had caused them stress, while 49 per cent of those who had changed jobs said they found it a difficult experience, as did 40 per cent who had got married.

More than one in three said finding a school for their child had been stressful, while one in five retirees said leaving work had been stressful.

Fewer than one in five people said buying a new car was stressful.

David Blake, at Which? Mortgage Advisers, said: “We’re a nation obsessed with homeownership, but when it comes to buying or selling, our research shows it can be an incredibly stressful process.

“There are a number of things you can do to reduce the strain, including speaking to a mortgage adviser early on to get your finances in order.

“Investing in good mortgage advice will ensure you find the best mortgage for you. To help avoid unnecessary stress when getting a mortgage, do ask about the reliability and service levels of any lender you’re considering.”

STRESS LEVELS

Percentages of people who said they found a particular life event stressful according to the research for Which?

• Going through a divorce 78%

• Selling a house 70%

• Buying a house 69%

• Arranging care for an elderly relative 68%

• Having a child 53%

• Changing jobs 49%

• Getting married 40%

• Finding a school for your child 36%

• Retiring from work 22%

• Buying a new car 17%