Why People Move: It’s Not Just About Space

You’ll often hear that people are leaving cities for a quieter life. That they want green space, a garden, or more room to breathe. And while that's true for some, it’s not the whole story.

People move for all sorts of reasons. Not always big dramatic ones, sometimes it’s just that life changes, and where you live no longer fits how you live.

A change in pace

Yes, some are stepping away from city life. Tired of the noise, the commute, the sense of always being “on.” They want calm, a spare room, maybe a dog. For them, the shift is about slowing things down.

Family first

Others move because their family situation changes. They need to be nearer to parents or schools or support. Maybe they’ve separated, downsized, or found a partner and are blending families under one roof. What worked five years ago doesn’t work now, and that’s normal.

Making things add up

Sometimes it’s purely financial. Rents go up. Mortgages renew at higher rates. The numbers just don’t stretch the way they used to. A move becomes not just practical, but necessary.

Working differently

Remote work has opened new doors. People aren’t always tied to a commute or a city postcode. That’s shifted the goalposts. They can choose where to live based on what feels right, not just what’s close to the office.

Coming back in

And for some, the move is in the other direction. After years away, they’re coming back to the city. To be closer to the action, to friends, to culture. Especially younger buyers looking for their first place, they’re not after quiet suburbs, they want life on the doorstep.

In fac,t I spoke to a cabbie recently who said he'd moved back to London from Somerset because his mother was getting old and he wanted to be near his children - to be fair it was clear his heart was still in the calmer pace of Somerset!

No one-size-fits-all

There’s no single reason why people move. It’s not always about space or cost.

Sometimes it’s just time for a change. And where you live should work for the life you’re living, not the one you used to have.