Why August is the Busiest Month for Moving House in the UK

Summer is the busiest time for moving house in the UK, with August in particular proving to be the most popular month. At Clockwork Removals and Storage, August has been the busiest month for our team for three consecutive years, and in 2024, we helped with more than 1,200 moves in this month alone.

Due to how busy August can be, you may need to consider storage services to make your move easier.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at why this month is so busy for house moves.

Why is August a popular moving time?

There are a wide range of reasons why August is so popular when it comes to moving house. This includes:

Longer, drier days

During the summer, the sun is up earlier and goes down later, meaning we have more daylight hours to work with. These extra hours of daylight can make all the difference when it comes to packing and unpacking, making movers more productive, and making the time of year a more popular choice. Also, the hope of drier days can make it easier to move compared to winter when it may be wet and icy. 

Summer is more sociable 

Many people feel more sociable and energised during the summer, and things can often move faster as people want to settle into their new property in time to enjoy the (hopefully) sunnier weather.

School holidays

While it can be difficult to line up house moving timelines perfectly, many people try to move into their new home during the summer holidays as it can be logistically easier without having to try and incorporate the school run into an already busy period. Plus, it means everyone will be ready for the new school year which starts in August in Scotland and September in England. 

Sales go through faster

People tend to put their homes on the market in spring, when their properties look the best. Then, due to the sale and legal processes, they often end up with a moving date in the summer months, like August.

How to plan around your moving date

We recommend booking moving services as early as possible to ensure you get the dates that work with your schedule, particularly if you need to organise an efficient move for when keys are handed over — that applies whether you’re buying or renting.

Another top tip relates to the fact that Friday is one of the most popular days for moving, as it allows people to utilise the weekend. For this reason, if you can be flexible with your dates, you’re likely to find even greater availability for your move.

The role of storage in the summer months 

While more house moves are made in August, it also means that sales are, unfortunately, also more likely to fall through at this time of year. With this in mind, the use of storage facilities is also busier in the summer.

It is not uncommon for long property chains to break, causing the dominoes to fall, and you may end up finding yourself needing a temporary solution. At Clockwork Removals and Storage, we provide customers nationwide with a comprehensive range of household storage options, including short and long-term storage. With flexible terms available that can be tailored to the unique needs of your move, each of our branches has its own secure and fully insured storage facility.

We also offer a handy self-storage option, which sees a mobile unit come directly to your house. Our team will then professionally pack your belongings before transporting the unit to your nearest branch.

Whether you’re moving house in August or any other time of year, the team here at Clockwork Removals and Storage is here to help. From removals support to storage services, whatever you need, simply get in touch with our team today to receive a free quote.