NatWest's Major Announcement Stresses Homebuyers
NatWest customers have been left "stressed" as the bank issues a major update over the prospect of relocating. The "rollercoaster" of finding a new home brings with it stresses, with 85 per cent saying it caused them anxiety due to uncertainty.
The bank, which has branches in Birmingham, has teamed up with Rightmove for the report. The report found 48 per cent questioned say finding the right home is the most joyful moment of the journey. That is followed by getting more space or a better property at 47 per cent. Moments such as having an offer accepted, 35 per cent, or picking up the keys for the new property, 34 per cent, also stand out as defining milestones.
Stress Levels and Frustrations
The NatWest report found 85 per cent of people admitted that they find moving home stressful, with pressure driven less by the moving itself and more by uncertainty during the process. One in five found it extremely stressful, whilst only 1 in 10 didn’t find it stressful at all. Common sources of frustration among customers included poor communication, finding the right property, and the logistics of moving day. Being part of a chain was also causing stress for many, the bank found.
NatWest's Response
Barry Connolly, Managing Director of Home Buying and Ownership at NatWest, said: “We’re always looking at ways to make home ownership more accessible and to reduce stress in what can be one of life’s biggest decisions. That’s why we focus on offering innovative mortgage solutions – from our Family Backed Mortgage to Shared Ownership products, alongside a simpler more transparent application process. Helping people feel clearer about their options, more confident about affordability, and better supported at every step.”
Rightmove's Role
Matt Smith, Mortgage Expert at Rightmove, said: "By working closely with NatWest to offer instant decisions in principle and faster mortgage offers for eligible buyers, we’re helping to remove some of the guesswork from home‑buying. But it’s about more than affordability alone. We want to build simple, digital solutions that increase transparency, simplify the home-moving process and put people firmly back in control of the moving journey, giving them the confidence to believe they can make their move."
