Friday 13th might be unlucky for some but superstition has not deterred homeowners from moving on this day. In fact, the date often experiences above average numbers of mortgage completions.
Statistics released by Yorkshire Building Society revealed that of the nine Fridays which have fallen on the 13th day of the month in the last five years, five had seen higher-than-average numbers of customers moving home.
Fear of this day – known as Paraskevidekatriaphobia – is believed to hinder people with the condition from carrying out normal routines.
Indeed, so superstitious are many of the number 13 that around 28% of UK roads do not have a house with that number, including Downing Street.
Lewes District Council and Herefordshire County Council went as far as to ban developers from creating a number 13 on new roads.
Yet house movers appear to remain undeterred by the superstition, said Yorkshire Building Society.
Janice Barber, mortgage manager at Yorkshire said: “Considering a phobia of Friday 13th can be so serious it can leave people paralysed with fear, it doesn’t seem to get in the way of people moving house.
“We appreciate it’s only a small representation of the total home moving market on these notable days but it’s interesting nonetheless to see borrowers seemingly reject the superstition that it could be unlucky to complete such a big event as moving house on Friday 13th.”
For any home movers who are keen to avoid this date in future, it might be worth knowing there is always at least one Friday 13th in a calendar year, with some years having up to three.
The longest period possible without a Friday 13th is 14 months.
