98% of adults still living with parents can’t afford to leave

New research by the Skipton Group has highlighted the alarming nature and scale of the housing crisis facing millions of adults trapped living with their parents. The data shows that an overwhelming majority are stuck – 98% of them are unable to afford to buy the average first-time buyer home in their area based on their own income.

The research shows that it’s not just a London and South East issue, but a national problem. In every region of Great Britain, fewer than 10% of ALPs can afford the average first-time buyer home. In London, the East of England, and the South West, affordability drops below 1.5%. It’s also not just a deposit problem. Even when the deposit barrier is removed, 97% of ALPs still cannot afford to buy.

Skipton Groups says that the crisis lies in both buying a home and being able to afford to live in one. This is because if they did move out, over 9 in 10 would face housing costs that exceed 45% of income – well above unsustainable affordability thresholds.

Skipton’s research, created in partnership with Oxford Economics, uncovers a crisis with intergenerational impacts. It shows that if parents with adult children at home were instead able to downsize, they could unlock an average of £72,400 in equity or save an average £2,400 a year in rent. For lower-income households, that equity could amount to 60% of their non-property wealth.

In addition to the quantitative research, a supplementary survey of 2,000 adults across Great Britain living with parents shows the psychological toll behind the figures. More than half (51%) feel a sense of lost youth, missing out on their best years living under someone else’s roof. The survey also dispels the myth of short-term ‘boomerang kids’ returning to parents for a few years to save – 70% have never moved out, and most have no clear path to independence. While 9 in 10 hope to move out at some point, even the vast majority (82%) of those who are actively able to save say they’re a long way off getting a sufficient deposit together.

Stuart Haire, Skipton Group CEO, said “This data lays bare the systemic failure of our housing ecosystem. It’s a failure that is locking millions of young people out of independence, home ownership, and long-term financial stability. When 98% of adults living with their parents can’t afford to leave, they’re not just facing a housing crisis – they’re facing a crisis of opportunity.”

“At Skipton Group, we are unwavering in our commitment to make home ownership more than a distant aspiration. Whether through our lending, our estate agency network, or through research like this, we are determined to help people take meaningful steps towards a home of their own.”