Housing costs force millions to stay at home with parents

A survey by the charity published today found nearly half of young people questioned did so because they cannot afford to rent or buy their own property, as it emerged that in some areas of Yorkshire almost a third of 20 to 34-year-olds are still living at home with parents.

Shelter claimed its analysis of the Census data uncovered several areas where the proportion of adults living with their parents is much higher, such as Castle Point in Essex where 45 per cent of young working adults still live in the home they grew up in.

In Yorkshire and the Humber, 178,975 people in the age group still live with the parents, which equates to 24 per cent. Ryedale and Craven were the worst areas, with 32 per cent of working 20 to 34-year-olds still living with their parents. East Riding was third, with 31 per cent of young people still at home.

Shelter’s chief executive Campbell Robb said: “The ‘clipped wing generation’ are finding themselves with no choice but to remain living with mum and dad well into adulthood, as they struggle to find a home of their own. Rather than pumping more money into schemes like Help to Buy, we need bolder action to meet the demand for affordable homes and not inflate prices further.

“From helping small local builders find the finance they need, to investing in a new generation of part rent, part buy homes, the solutions to our housing shortage are there for the taking. Politicians of all parties must now put stable homes for the next generation at the top of the agenda.”

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis claimed the Government’s Help to Buy scheme had ensured more than 35,000 people have been able to get on the property ladder with a smaller deposit. Since 2010, nearly 200,000 new affordable homes have been built and nearly £1 billion invested in the Build to Rent scheme to construct new homes specifically for private rent.