Home ownership for 25-year-olds falls to lowest level, IFS research shows
Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies shows that home ownership among 25-year-olds in the UK has fallen to its lowest level on record, highlighting ongoing challenges in the housing market for young people.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
New research commissioned by the BBC and conducted by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has revealed that home ownership among 25-year-olds in the UK has fallen to its lowest level on record. The study shows that the proportion of 25-year-olds who own their own home has dropped from 43.3% in the mid-1980s to just 14.8% today. This marks the lowest home ownership rate for any generation at that age.
The IFS analysis attributes the decline primarily to rising housing costs, which now take up a higher share of income than for any previous generation of 25-year-olds. As a result, the number of young people living with their parents has nearly doubled since the 1990s, reaching 41.7% today.
The BBC's Your Voice correspondent, Colette Smith, spoke to several young people about their experiences. Daisy, a 25-year-old who moved back in with her parents in Guildford after losing her job in London, described the benefits of living at home, including a garden, a powerful shower, streaming services, and a dishwasher. Her father said she was welcome to stay as long as she liked, though he hoped she would eventually afford her own place.
Adam, 26, who has been living with his parents in Swindon for six months, expressed frustration, saying it was "unfair" on both him and his parents. He noted that living at home had affected his personal life, as he could not bring a partner back to his parents' house. His parents have not lived alone since having children more than 30 years ago.
Rachel, who moved from Oldham to Portsmouth for an engineering job, still relies on her parents to help cover her rent. She said she was not saving any money from her paycheck because of high rental and utility costs. In Leighton Buzzard, Steph lives with her sister, their partners, and their mother Nikki, contributing some rent. Steph works two jobs to make ends meet, and her mother noted that the situation affects the whole family.
The report highlights a significant generational shift, with impacts extending beyond young people to their parents. The BBC's series on the cost of being young continues, with further coverage planned on the delays in reaching adult milestones and the effects on mental health and society.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| Housing affordability for 25-year-olds has worsened: home ownership fell from 43.3% to 14.8%, costs are highest on record, and 41.7% live with parents. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focused on the human impact of falling home ownership, using personal stories from young people and their families to illustrate the trend. It emphasised the emotional and practical consequences of living with parents longer, including effects on relationships and family dynamics. The tone was sympathetic and explanatory, linking the IFS data to real-life experiences.
- “The number of 25-year-olds who own their own home has dropped from 43.3% in the mid-1980s to just 14.8% today.”
- “I think there's no world where it's normal to be 26 years old still living at home. It's unfair on me, it's unfair on my parents.”
- “A huge shift, unique to Gen Z, but with impacts being felt by their parents too.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.