New research reveals what kids and parents really feel about their home, with Scots’ biggest loves and loathes

• New data from Barclays Mortgages reveals that Scots are true home birds, with 85 per cent happy in their current home – yet a fickle 42 per cent would still consider moving
• People living in Edinburgh are the happiest with their homes of any UK city
• Scotland’s top love – coming out on top for both children and their parents – was youngsters having their own room, topping living close to family & friends and even fast Wi-Fi
• When it came to the negative, children loathe nothing more than having a home that is far away from friends, and parents having no spare rooms for family
• TV presenter and property expert, Lucy Alexander, shares her opinion on how parents can make the most of their family home

New research from Barclays Mortgages reveals that 85 per cent of Scots are happy in their home – but the grass really is greener, as 42 per cent of us would still consider moving home. However, people living in Edinburgh are the most happy with their homes in the UK. Home really is where the heart is for Scotland’s children too, as 96 per cent like their home and over one third (37 per cent) would be upset if their parents told them they were moving.

Top loves reveal practical parents and safety conscious kids  

The findings reveal the most popular reasons for why people love their home, with practical parents prioritising children having their own rooms (52 per cent) and outdoor space (50 per cent) over fond memories (14 per cent) and proximity to family (28 per cent). Similarly, when it came to connections, just over a quarter prioritised speedy Wi-Fi (26 per cent) over living close to friends (17 per cent).

When asking children why they loved their home, the most common reason was having their own room  (70 per cent), with almost half (46 per cent)  choosing a strong Wi-Fi connection and ) almost one in five (18 per cent) the lack of household monsters.

The Barclays Mortgages research also looked into what would make a child’s dream home – unsurprisingly, they were much less practical than their parents, with a swimming pool, a games room and a cinema room being rated as the most popular features.

Top loathes show common ground between families

Parents and children had some common ground when it came to their biggest property loathes, with both hating any limitations on having their friends to stay. Having no spare rooms for family members was the most common reason for parents (1 in 5) disliking their property, with a home far away from friends as the ultimate childhood faux-pas (24 per cent).

One in six children (16 per cent) hate having to travel far to school, with parents keen to avoid spending money as high council tax (20 per cent) and the need for renovations (16 per cent) both scored in their top three loathes.

Interestingly, there were some quirky differences of opinion across the country.  30 per cent of Edinburgh residents liked their home for the picturesque views compared to less than one in six Glaswegians (13 per cent). But perhaps the real reason behind the capital’s happy homeowners is down to life’s little essentials – good Wi-Fi (31 per cent), good takeaways (15 per cent) and a good local (7 per cent) which were all ranked more highly as reasons why they loved their current home by those in Edinburgh than in Glasgow (21 per cent, 10 per cent and 2 per cent respectively).

The move vs. improve decision

Whatever the reason, it’s clear that homeowners and their children will often have a love/hate relationship with their homes. Before making the big decision to up sticks and leave, it’s important for parents to weigh up the pros and cons of moving home vs. remortgaging and staying put

Hannah Bernard, Head of Mortgages at Barclays, commented: “It’s well known that us Brits invest a huge amount of energy and money in our family homes, so it’s no surprise that we’re a nation of true home birds.

“Whether you love your property and are staying put or are looking to up sticks and move, we understand the different factors that go into this difficult decision and want to help families stay in control of their finances as they plan for a change in their home – whether it’s a big move, a remortgage or home improvements.”

TV personality and property expert, Lucy Alexander, has partnered with Barclays Mortgages to share her thoughts on how parents can make the best of their current home, for when moving or upgrading simply isn’t an option.

Lucy Alexander, TV presenter and property expert, commented: “We all have different views on what makes a good home, and one person’s dream home could be another’s idea of hell!  

“It’s no surprise that children dream of a slide instead of stairs and I think we all secretly want a games room, but I’m amazed to see that so many supposedly happy homeowners would still consider moving. The grass is clearly greener and many of us are always looking for something more from our homes – whether it’s a bigger kitchen, a shorter commute or simply more outside space.”  

For further information on Barclays Mortgages or improving your home, visit www.barclays.co.uk/mortgages or https://www.barclays.co.uk/moments/improving-your-home/

House hunters can download the Barclays Homeowner app to find a dream home, calculate borrowing and for direct access to estate agents and mortgage specialists.