Twitter Facebook RSS FEEDS

Homes give Brits status anxiety

Friday, 9 March 2007 12:00 AM

Two in three Brits in their 30s and 40s suffer from status anxiety about their home, a new study reveals.

Research from Standard Life Bank shows for a third of homeowners with status anxiety the main pressure in their life is to live in a home that looks good and is located in the right area.

Ten per cent intend to move home in the next 12 months in a bid to quell this home-related stress.

However, more than half say they will be renovating and make home improvements to beat their status anxiety.

Benjamin Fry, consumer psychologist and host of the BBC show Spendaholics says renovations and home improvement strike a good balance for homeowners with status issues about their properties.

"Many people in their 30s and 40s are living very full, busy lives which mean that wholesale changes are very difficult to manage comfortably.

"There becomes a trade off between their aspirations and the time, money and stress that it would take to achieve them.

"Upgrading what they have can therefore become the perfect solution to finding some balance between personal ambitions and quality of life; if the goal is a happier life, it is important to be smart about the overall picture while striving to achieve that."

For more information and to listen to a podcast with Benjamin Fry on this topic see uk.standardlifebank.com

Related stories

Brits have grand designs on their own homes

Brits have grand designs on their own homes

Are TV property programmes turning us into a nation of show home owners?

 Row of terraced houses on a sunny day

Six million give up on ever owning a property

Only one in 20 potential buyers have enough money saved for a deposit – and 13% of Brits don’t plan to buy at all.
Row of terraced houses in London

Most Brits want to pass on property to their kids

Six out of ten say they want to bequeath their main home to their family but only four in ten are banking on an inheritance.

 Grandfather teaching grandson to polish shoes

Many Brits opting to keep it in the family

Multi-generational living is becoming increasingly popular – and not just because of the free babysitting.
Lazy man lying on sofa

Brits 'can't be bothered' to insulate their homes

Households are missing out on an average saving of £390 per year by not having cavity walls and lofts insulated.

 No parking sign in window

Brits claim rights to home parking spots

Almost half of the public believe they have rights over the nearest public parking space to their home.
Downsizing, moving to a cheaper area and equity release seen as main ways to use home to supplement retirement income. Image: Thinkstock

Over-50s look to homes to boost their pensions

Downsizing, moving to a cheaper area and equity release seen as main ways to use home to supplement retirement income.

Falling prices and high moving costs leave people who bought their first home in 2007 £11,000 short of being able to move. Image: Thinkstock

Would-be second-time buyers trapped in their homes

Falling prices and high moving costs leave people who bought their first home in 2007 £11,000 short of being able to move, says HSBC
Buyers need to earn £46,500 to get on the bottom rung of the property ladder in rural areas, says Hometrack.

Rural homes command a premium price

Buyers need to earn £46,500 to get on the bottom rung of the property ladder in rural areas, says Hometrack.

Row of terraced houses in London

Rise in mortgage use to buy West End homes

There has been a significant rise in the proportion of people using mortgages to buy properties in London’s West End.

Search property

Headlines

Directory

Alaris

Alaris Logo
Alaris specialise in quality Bathrooms and Kitchens along with many other unique products for your home. The range of kitchens, kitchen worktops and bathrooms is extensive and the highest quality so you are sure to find what you want. New bathroom furniture, bathroom suites, taps, showers and cabinets are added regularly.

Bathrooms365

Bathrooms365 Logo
Bathroom365 supply all areas of your new bathroom - leading-edge designed bathroom suites, stylish bathroom taps and showers, all styles and forms of shower enclosures and a vast collection of bathroom furniture.

Fitmykitchen

Fitmykitchen Logo
Fitmykitchen are specialist suppliers of kitchen appliances, sink taps, waste bins and furniture. So whatever you want from kitchen sink taps to waste bins look no further than fitmykitchen, UK, the specialist suppliers of kitchen appliances, stainless steel sink taps, waste bins and kitchen furniture.

MyStampDuty

MyStampDuty Logo
We help people buying property all over the UK to minimise Stamp Duty Land Tax on residential and commercial property. If you are looking at purchasing a new home or business premises over £500,000, contact us today by completing the form on the right

Oak Furniture Land

Oak Furniture Land Logo
For hardwood furniture, including Solid Oak, Mango, Mahogany, Sheesham, Acacia, Ash and Birch, look no further than Oak Furniture Land.

Rated People

Rated People Logo
Whatever type of home improvement or garden remodelling project you have, Rated People can help you to identify the right tradesmen for the job in a way that is quick, easy, convenient and, as it is based on real-life recommendations, trustworthy.

Residential Land

Residential Land Logo
If you are looking for short or long term rentals in Central London, Residential Land have a portfolio of over 1200 flats and houses in the best postcodes across the Capital.

Simply Bedrooms

Simply Bedrooms Logo
Simply Bedrooms, a part of Sleepwell Bedrooms Ltd, supplying quality beds, wardrobes, sliding door wardrobes and bedroom furniture at low prices and great service, London and Home Counties Specialists.

Door Handles UK

Door Handles UK Logo
Door Handles UK is the UK's largest online range of Door Handle accessories, Door Hinges, Locks and Latches and so much more and all at genuine internet prices. We have a wide range of Chrome, Brass and Glass Crystal Mortice door knobs in both traditional and contemporary designs, whatever your taste and budget you will find a design to suit.

Woodlands Furniture

Woodlands Furniture Logo
We are an established family business situated in rural Herefordshire specialising in beautiful handcrafted classic reproduction furniture. Our comprehensive ranges are readily available from stock.

WowBBQ

WowBBQ Logo
Welcome to the World of Weber. We are the largest independent online Weber BBQ retailer in the United Kingdom. WOWbbq.co.uk is a Weber Partner Store and can give you the best advice for all your Weber BBQ needs.

Join our directory aboutproperty.co.uk

Twitter

Join the conversation at #aboutproperty

Directory articles

FAQs about commercial stamp duty

If you want to relocate to larger premises, you need to know about commercial stamp duty. Different rates apply than with residential property, however, like residential buyers, you could potentially benefit from stamp duty mitigation.

Save space with a small bathroom suite

Most people dream of having spacious bathrooms with a freestanding tub and a separate shower cubicle where you can relax in pure luxury. However, the reality is that bathrooms are rarely as big as we'd like them to be. Here are some tips on how to make the most of a small bathroom.

The benefits of choosing painted kitchens for your home

If you want to give your home a makeover, consider painted kitchens. While these look great in traditional properties, such as cottages and farmhouses, they also work well with contemporary spaces due to the large selection of styles and colours.