Domestic relocation is becoming an increasingly important part of the mobility conversation. While international assignments often take the spotlight, moves within a country bring their own challenges, particularly when it comes to housing costs, employee expectations, and providing the right level of support.
Our 2026 Mobility Outlook Survey indicated that 92% of companies expect Domestic Relocation volume to remain steady or increase. So with this growing interest in domestic moves, I'm excited to announce the launch of AIRINC’s 2026 U.S. and U.K. Domestic Relocation Benchmarking Surveys!
We've designed these surveys to explore how organizations are approaching domestic relocation today, from the benefits they offer to the flexibility they build into their programs.
And perhaps most importantly, they will help answer a question I hear frequently from mobility professionals: How does our domestic relocation policy compare with what other companies are doing?
Moving employees within the same country may sound straightforward, but developing a relocation policy that works for both the organization and the employee is anything but simple.
How much support is enough? Should homeowners receive different benefits from renters? Are lump sums the best solution, or is a more managed approach preferable?
These are exactly the kinds of questions we're exploring through our new benchmarks.
Both surveys take a closer look at some of the decisions mobility teams face, including:
Flexibility and employee choice: Are organizations using traditional tiered policies, core/flex arrangements, or giving employees greater control over how relocation benefits are used?
Lump sums: How are companies calculating relocation allowances, and how much are they actually providing?
Housing affordability: How are employers responding when mortgage costs, housing prices, or the cost of moving make relocation more challenging?
Alternatives to relocation: When a permanent move isn't practical, are companies considering temporary assignments, long-distance commuting, or hybrid arrangements?
We're also exploring the practical details that can make a significant difference to employees, from temporary accommodation and household goods shipments to partner support and tax assistance.
Although many of the challenges are shared, domestic relocation programs in the U.S. and U.K. operate in different housing, tax, and employment environments.
That's why we've developed dedicated questionnaires for each market, allowing us to explore the issues most relevant to organizations operating in each country.
In the U.S., we're taking a detailed look at home sale programs, including guaranteed buyouts, buyer value options, and loss-on-sale assistance. We're also exploring how companies address mortgage-rate challenges, buyer-agent compensation, and relocation repayment agreements.
In the U.K., the survey examines support for property transactions, including estate agent and conveyancing fees, stamp duty, and rental deposits. It also looks at how companies manage the £8,000 tax exemption for qualifying relocation expenses.
One of the things I enjoy most about benchmarking is seeing how different organizations approach the same challenges.
There isn't always one right way to structure a relocation program. The right approach depends on an organization's workforce, business priorities, and the level of support it wants to provide.
But having reliable market data makes those decisions much easier.
By participating in AIRINC’s Domestic Relocation Surveys, you'll help us develop a clearer picture of current practices while gaining valuable information to evaluate your own program.
And as a thank you for your participation, you'll receive the comprehensive benchmark results for each survey you complete, at no cost.
All responses will be aggregated and kept confidential.
Our U.S. and U.K. surveys are now open, and we'd love to hear from organizations with domestic relocation programs in either market.
| Participate in the U.S. Domestic Relocation Survey | Participate in the U.K. Domestic Relocation Survey |
If your organization manages domestic relocations in both countries, you're welcome to participate in both.
The deadline for participation is October 30, 2026.
I'm really looking forward to seeing what these surveys reveal, particularly where approaches are similar and where organizations are taking different paths.
And while we're starting with the U.S. and U.K., our curiosity about domestic relocation doesn't stop there. We're already thinking about where else these conversations could take us, so watch this space!
For now, I hope you'll take part, share your organization's experience, and help us build a valuable set of benchmarks for the mobility community.