Over 12 million young adults have lived with family to save for first property

• More than 12 million young adults (aged 18-40) have lived with their parents or relatives to help them save for their first home
• This is equal to three in five people in this age group – meaning the majority have lived with their parents to get on the property ladder

Most young adults in the UK have lived in their family home, not for comfort, but because they simply can’t afford to rent and save for a house deposit at the same time.

A survey of 3,000 UK adults conducted by lifetime ISA provider OneFamily, has found that three in five adults aged 18 to 40, equal to more than 12 million people, have lived with parents or relatives specifically to save for their first home.

Nearly one in five – equivalent to 3.6 million adults – are currently doing so, as hopeful first-time buyers continue to feel the squeeze of rents and the cost of living.

Among those who have returned home to save for a property are charity worker Jessica Keogh, 25, and her partner Zak, 27, who recently purchased their dream home together – a three-bedroom house in Essex.

The couple used their OneFamily Lifetime ISAs (LISAs) to help them save, which offer a free 25% government bonus on up to £4,000 saved annually. That means savers can earn up to an extra £1,000 each year.

After finishing university, Jessica moved back in with her mum for over three years, while Zak lived with friends and then later returned home with his family to put money aside for a deposit.

Jessica said: “We both feel very lucky to have such warm, welcoming parents who would happily have us stay for as long as we needed. We’re both very aware not everyone is in that position, and we don’t take it for granted.

“If I’d stayed renting with friends, I would have been spending around £600 a month.  I was then able to put the money I saved by living at home towards my deposit. Without the opportunity to move home, we wouldn’t have been able to buy the house we have or do it in the timeline we managed.

“It’s harder for Gen Z to reach big financial milestones, like owning a home, starting a family, or building a career, especially with the cost-of-living crisis.  Most people, regardless of age, want to own a home. But I’d say a lot of young people today also value life experiences like travel more than perhaps older generations did. Sometimes we’re seen as lazy or lucky to live at home longer, but for many of us, it’s just not affordable to move out yet.”

As of July 2025, the average UK house price was approximately £270,000, which is over seven times more than the average yearly incomes of around £37,600, according to ONS data. Renting can also often eat up a large chunk of savers’ monthly income, leaving little left over to put towards a deposit.

Jim Islam, CEO of OneFamily commented, “What we’re seeing here is that independent young adults are having to return to their family homes, just to be able to save up enough for a deposit. For Jessica and Zak, it made smart financial sense to move back in with their families for a while. But for many, this can be a tough call to make and a difficult readjustment.

“Buying a home feels out of reach for a lot of young people right now, but not all hope is lost. There are tools out there and careful planning, saving, and the right financial education and support can help hopeful homebuyers get on the ladder.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

Unless otherwise stated, all research was conducted by Opinium on behalf of OneFamily between February 6th and 17th, 2025, among a sample of 3,000 UK adults aged 18 to 40, weighted to be nationally representative.

Three in five (60%) of young adults, equivalent to 12,229,131 18-40’s, have lived with parents or other family members specifically to save for a mortgage deposit or to purchase a home. 18% are currently doing so, equivalent to 3,626,595 18-40’s.

All population figures have been calculated using the most recent ONS population estimates for adults in the UK (mid-year 2023). All calculations made will be made available upon request: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland

External references

Office for National Statistics (2025) Private rent and house prices, UK – Office for National Statistics

In the UK, as of July 2025, the average house price was approximately £270,000, while the average annual income is around £37,600, meaning the typical home costs more than times the average yearly income, according to ONS data.

What is a lifetime ISA?

Lifetime ISAs are a product set up by the UK government to help people either buy their first home or save for retirement (from the age of 60).

The government tops up lifetime ISAs by 25%, so for every £100 you save, it will give you an extra £25 on top. You can’t save more than £4,000 in your lifetime ISA each tax year so the biggest government bonus you can get is £1,000 a year.

Please note, there is a penalty charge for taking your money out within 12 months or not using it for your first home or for retirement. This is known as the government withdrawal charge.

As with all ISAs, lifetime ISAs are tax-free. This means that no matter how much your investments grow by, you won’t pay any tax on the money you make.

Our Lifetime ISA invests in stocks and shares, therefore it has good potential to grow over the long-term but the value can go down as well as up.
Once opened, you can continue contributing to your lifetime ISA until you are 50.

To be eligible to open a lifetime ISA, you must be:

• A UK resident
• Aged between 18 and 39

Please visit OneFamily Lifetime ISAs for more information and for the OneFamily Lifetime ISA calculator.

For more information please contact:

Nicola Gwyer – [email protected]

Tel: 07718 123 838

Amelia Duck – [email protected]

Tel: 07720 091 722

About OneFamily 

We’re owned by our members for our members, which means we don’t have shareholders to pay – so we can reinvest our profits for good. Putting our members first and improving the financial wellbeing of those who need it most is firmly built into our values.

We have more than 1.5 million customers and 50 years’ experience of providing accessible, affordable products to help people make the most of their money. And don’t just take our word for it – our customers rate us highly, with an overall satisfaction score of 93% in 2024.*

Inspiring Better Futures

Our Inspiring Better Futures vision is driven by doing the right thing for our members and customers, colleagues, and communities. Putting our members first, thinking about their needs and improving the financial wellbeing of those who need it most is firmly built into our values.

Through our charity partnerships, volunteering and fundraising we’re able make a difference to those who need it most – staying true to our mutual ethos of supporting local causes.

For more information on how we support our members and communities see:

Young Persons Education Grants | Membership | OneFamily

Charity Partnerships | About us | OneFamily

Inspiring Better Futures | OneFamily

*​​​​​​​​​​Source: Bright survey, 2024.