Nearly two-thirds of Belfast homeowners would rather renovate than move

Structural glazing specialists Fluid Glass surveyed homeowners to find out how high mortgage rates and a cooling housing market are impacting their decisions when it comes to moving or improving their homes.

The research found that Belfast homeowners are the most renovation-focused in Britain, with almost two-thirds (65.6 per cent) saying they would rather improve their current home than move house. Just 12.5 per cent said they would prefer to relocate, making Belfast one of the cities least likely to want to move.

Why Belfast homeowners aren't moving

The findings suggest that many Belfast homeowners are staying put because they already feel settled, while rising house prices and the stress of moving are making relocation even less appealing.

Rather than taking on the cost and uncertainty of moving, many homeowners are instead looking at how they can make their existing property work better for them.

In Belfast, homeowners' biggest aspiration isn't simply to modernise their homes. The most popular improvement was adding more living space (18.8 per cent), followed by adding an extra bedroom (15.6 per cent), while 12.5 per cent said they would prioritise renovating or modernising their home and a further 12.5 per cent would focus on improving energy efficiency.

However, turning those ambitions into reality is proving difficult.

Nearly 44.4 per cent of Belfast homeowners said cost is preventing them from carrying out improvements, while 11.1 per cent cited a lack of savings. Concerns around disruption from building work and whether renovations would add enough value were also influencing decisions.

Biggest barriers to improving homes in Belfast

The findings suggest Belfast homeowners are increasingly choosing to invest in the homes they already own rather than face the financial and emotional cost of moving. While many already feel their home meets their needs, others are hoping to create the additional space their families need, but rising renovation costs mean many projects remain firmly on hold.