From the Editor

Britain cannot build a stronger economy while the housing market remains stuck in neutral. For years, both Conservative and Labour governments have talked about growth, mobility and opportunity.  Yet the reality for millions of households and businesses has been very different. A sluggish housing market, rising transaction costs and an increasingly complex moving process have all combined to suppress activity, confidence and investment. 

The consequences reach far beyond estate agents and housebuilders. When people cannot move efficiently, the wider economy suffers. Labour mobility declines, businesses struggle to recruit in different regions, downsizing becomes harder for older homeowners, and first-time buyers face even greater barriers. Every stalled property transaction has a ripple effect across multiple sectors, including removals and storage – often the forgotten ‘backbone’ of housing mobility. 

The industry has shown remarkable resilience in recent years, navigating inflation, fuel costs, labour shortages and shifting consumer behaviour. Yet resilience alone cannot compensate for policy inertia. Governments of all political colours have become too focused on regulation, taxation and short-term political messaging, while failing to create the conditions needed for sustained market confidence and housing activity. 

Stamp duty remains a significant drag on movement. Planning delays continue to restrict supply. Mortgage affordability rules, while important for stability, have become increasingly detached from the realities of modern incomes and working patterns. At the same time, consumers face growing uncertainty and delays in the conveyancing process, undermining confidence at every stage of a move. 

If ministers are serious about economic growth, then stimulating housing activity must become a national priority. Encouraging movement within the market is not simply about boosting house prices; it is about unlocking economic dynamism. A healthy property market generates work for surveyors, solicitors, tradespeople, removers, storage operators and countless SMEs that depend on transactional activity. 

BAR – the British Association of Removers – recently took this message directly to Westminster during the launch of its parliamentary report, Getting Britain Moving. The sight of removal vehicles around Parliament Square served as a timely reminder that the removals and storage sector is not peripheral to the economy – it is essential infrastructure supporting more than a million household moves every year. The report rightly highlighted the growing risks posed by delays, rising costs and the expansion of unregulated operators. 

Government must now listen. Britain does not need more rhetoric about growth; it needs policies that actively encourage confidence, movement and investment.  

A functioning housing market is one of the clearest indicators of economic health. Until policymakers recognise that reality, the country risks remaining trapped in a cycle of stagnation where aspiration, mobility and enterprise continue to be held back. 

If you have a view on how our industry and policymakers can work together to unlock Britain’s housing market and drive meaningful change, we want to hear from you. Share your thoughts with Patrick and the editorial team and help shape the conversation that moves the industry forward.