Young homeownership on the rise – but inequality widens

Young homeownership on the rise – but inequality widens

0:02 AM, 6th January 2025, About 2 days ago

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Young millennials are more likely to own homes than older millennials were at the same age, but rising homeownership rates are largely benefiting wealthier households, research reveals.

According to Resolution Foundation, homeownership rates among young people have increased since 2015 but the gap between rich and poor homeowners is widening.

Middle and upper-income households have seen the most significant gains, while low-income households have experienced limited improvement.

That’s in stark contrast to the claims being made by campaigners like Generation Rent.

‘Share of young homeowners growing consistently’

Molly Broome, an economist at the foundation, said: “After decades of falling youth home ownership, Britain has finally turned a corner with the share of young homeowners growing consistently since the mid-2010s.

“However, poorer young people have largely missed out on this recovery, and the property divide among young millennials has widened as a result.”

She adds: “Housing costs have also been falling recently, but the scale of the crisis that has built up means that housing stress remains rampant among young people – particularly among poorer families, Londoners and private renters.”

More likely to own their own home

The report states that rich young millennials are four times more likely to own their own home as their lower income counterparts.

The divide has widened from 36 to 39 percentage points.

Despite these recent increases, young people today are still far less likely to own homes compared to previous generations.

The report highlights that young people are more likely to rent privately and live with their parents than in the past.

What young people spend on housing has fallen

While the share of income young people spend on housing has fallen, this drop is not evenly distributed, the research reveals.

Housing stress, defined as spending more than 30% of income on housing, remains concentrated among low-income households and those living in London.

The report emphasises the need for the government to build on these positive trends by hitting its housing targets and addressing the needs of low-income families.

This includes, it states, increasing access to affordable housing and re-pegging Local Housing Allowance to the 30th percentile of local rents.


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