Why Derbyshire Homeowners Are Thinking Twice Before Moving
Derbyshire homeowners are staying put for longer, as higher moving costs, mortgage pressures and slower price growth make each move a major decision. New research from highlights a long-term fall in property turnover, but the market remains active for sellers who price realistically and plan their next move carefully and confidently.
Homeowners are remaining in the same property for longer, according to new research reported by Estate Agent Today. However, this should not be interpreted as evidence that the housing market has stopped functioning.
The figures point to a gradual, long-term change in the way people approach moving home. Rather than making several relatively small steps up or down the property ladder, households are increasingly treating each move as a larger and more carefully considered decision.
Short-term moves have become much less common
The research, produced by Connells Group using Land Registry data, found that just 5% of sellers in England and Wales so far in 2026 had owned their property for less than three years. In 2006, that figure was 15%.
The proportion selling within five years has also fallen, from 29% in 2006 to 14% in 2026. Looking over a longer period, 32% of properties sold this year had been owned for less than ten years, compared with 47% in 2006. The average seller has now lived in their property for 12.2 years, up from 9.2 years a decade ago.
These figures do not suggest that people have lost all interest in moving. They show that short ownership periods are becoming less common and that more homeowners need a strong practical or financial reason before putting their property on the market.
Why are homeowners staying for longer?
Moving home involves much more than comparing the price of one property with another. Stamp duty, estate agency fees, conveyancing, surveys, mortgage charges and removals can create a significant overall bill.
It's estimated that the typical mover in England is paying around £5,950 in stamp duty during 2026, before any of those additional costs are included. The burden is considerably higher in London, where the typical stamp duty bill is estimated at £23,000.
Mortgage affordability is another consideration. Homeowners who secured borrowing during the period of exceptionally low interest rates may find that a new mortgage is more expensive, even when the property they want to purchase is only moderately more valuable than their existing home.
Slower house-price growth has also reduced the equity cushion available to some recent buyers. The research found that 20% of sellers who had owned their home for five years or less sold it for less than they originally paid during 2026. That compares with 10% in 2006. Among those selling within three years, the proportion was 23%.
That statistic needs to be read carefully. It relates specifically to people selling after a relatively short ownership period; it does not mean that one in five of all homeowners is making a loss, nor does it mean that every part of the country is experiencing the same conditions. For some households, extending, renovating or adapting their current home may now offer better value than moving. For others, a change in employment, family size, health, relationship or lifestyle will still make a move necessary.
Lower turnover does not mean a frozen market
There is an important distinction between homeowners moving less frequently over several decades and the housing market suddenly coming to a halt. The latest official HMRC figures recorded approximately 98,700 seasonally adjusted UK residential transactions in June 2026. That was 2% higher than in June 2025 and marginally higher than in May 2026. HMRC also notes that completion figures generally reflect offers made two to four months earlier.
Separate Connells research published in July found that 52% of homes listed across Great Britain in January had secured an offer within six months. Two and three-bedroom properties performed most strongly, with 55% and 53% respectively finding a buyer during that period. The picture is therefore one of a more selective and price-sensitive market, rather than an inactive one.
For Derbyshire sellers, this reinforces the importance of looking at evidence from the immediate area. Conditions in Derby, Chesterfield, the High Peak, the Derbyshire Dales and the county’s former mining communities will not necessarily move at the same pace. Property type, price range, condition and exact location can be more important than a national headline.
Why the Connells research is reliable
Connells Group’s presence in Derbyshire extends well beyond branches carrying the Connells name. The company says it operates more than 80 local estate agency brands across the UK.
As of 6 August 2026, Connells Group brands with physical branches in Derbyshire include:
- Ashley Adams in Derby and Melbourne.
- Bagshaws Residential in Ashbourne, Bakewell, Derby and Mickleover.
- Hall & Benson in Alfreton, Allestree, Belper, Heanor and Spondon.
- Burchell Edwards in Belper, Ilkeston and Ripley.
- Frank Innes in Chesterfield, Derby and Long Eaton.
These businesses retain their individual branding and local branch teams, but they sit within the wider Connells Group network. Obviously that doesn't, by itself, determine the quality of service provided by an individual office, it's simply useful context for homeowners who are comparing agents, valuations and market commentary from what may initially appear to be entirely independent agents.
Why property turnover matters beyond estate agency figures
It is estimated that, if homeowners were moving as frequently as they did in 2006, England and Wales could see approximately 439,000 additional housing transactions each year.
That does not mean 439,000 additional homes would be built, nor does it mean households should be encouraged to move unnecessarily. It means that the existing housing stock would circulate more frequently.
This matters because one move can create several linked opportunities. A homeowner choosing to downsize may release a larger property for a growing family. That family may leave behind a smaller property suitable for a first-time buyer. The first-time buyer may then allow a landlord, developer or another owner to make a separate decision. One completed move can therefore help unlock several parts of a property chain.
Turnover also affects how effectively the existing housing stock meets changing needs. A property may still be perfectly suitable for its owner, in which case staying put is a rational choice. In other cases, a household may want to move to a more accessible home, relocate for employment, reduce a long commute, obtain an additional bedroom or live closer to relatives, but decide that the financial cost is too high.
When those moves do not happen, the number of homes in the country remains unchanged, but the selection available to particular buyers can become more limited. A shortage of suitable listings is not always the same thing as a shortage of buildings; sometimes it reflects existing homes not coming back to the market.
There is also a wider economic effect. Every transaction creates work for conveyancers, surveyors, mortgage advisers, removal companies and tradespeople. Buyers commonly spend money on repairs, decoration, furniture and appliances after moving. Greater mobility can also make it easier for people to change jobs or relocate to areas where their skills are needed.
However, higher turnover is not automatically better. Remaining in a home can provide stability, strengthen community ties and allow owners to invest in improving their property. The important question is whether people are staying because their home continues to suit them, or because moving costs and affordability prevent them from making a change they genuinely need.
The 439,000 figure is therefore best understood as a measure of reduced mobility, not as a target that must be achieved. New housing supply remains important, but so does making the best use of the homes that already exist.
A more deliberate housing market
At the end of the day, people will continue to move when their circumstances require it. What has changed is the calculation behind that decision.
Homeowners are more likely to examine the full cost of moving, their likely sale price, the affordability of an onward purchase and how long the next property will meet their needs. Buyers are also becoming more selective, particularly where a home requires substantial work or appears expensive compared with similar properties.
For anyone considering a move, the message is not to panic or assume that selling is no longer worthwhile. It is to plan carefully, obtain evidence-based local advice, understand all the costs involved and begin with a realistic assessment of both the property being sold and the next home.
Moving may now happen less frequently, but well-prepared and appropriately priced properties are still changing hands. The market is simply becoming more 'considered'.
If you are considering moving home in the next few months, please get in touch and we can review your own objectives.
