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1 in 10 have to live with parents

Almost one in ten people aged between 20 and 40 – equivalent to 1.6 million people - are living with their parents because they can’t afford to rent or buy a home according to a YouGov poll for Shelter.

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The 'boomerang generation' in numbers

The Shelter poll of 5,379 adults has revealed the impact living at home as an adult is having on the so-called boomerang generation:

  • Almost two thirds (59%) say that developing new relationships is harder because of their living situation
  • Over a third (35%) of adults living at home felt embarrassed to admit they have moved back in with their parents
  • Nearly a quarter (24%) said their relationship with their parents had deteriorated
  • Nearly half of parents (44%) are concerned that living at home is holding their children back
  • Over two thirds (39%) said they still have to do a big family food shop and nearly one in five (19%) said the cost of having their children living with them meant they had less to spend on holidays
  • But almost the same proportion (18%) said financial contributions from their children brought household costs down
  • Over one in 10 (12%) adults said it put a strain on their relationship with their partner was strained as a result

Shelter: 'Housing shortage means arrested development for UK youth'

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said:

These figures paint a vivid picture of 20- and 30-somethings in arrested development, with our housing crisis putting the brakes on their aspirations for the future.

Our chronic lack of homes that young people can genuinely afford to rent or buy is at the root of the problem.

There's no doubt that young people are grateful to be able to live with mum and dad to save money. But we have to question whether it's acceptable that this is becoming the norm for people to live at home into their mid-030s, when we know that they are desperate to be independent and make their own way in the world.

As rents soar and deposits become even further out of reach, the Government needs to look seriously at how it can meet these young people halfway, and make housing more affordable so that this generation and the next can get on in life.

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Shelter poll reveals challenges facing 'boomerang generation'

Estate agents boards are seen in Lambeth, London Credit: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

The findings also reveal that 22 is considered the ideal age for young people to move out of their family home.

But with almost a third of first-time-buyers aged over 35, young people face years of private renting or living with their parents before they can hope to get on the property ladder.

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