• About this study

The reality of generation rent

Perceptions of the first time buyer market

About this study

First conducted in 2011, this study led to the identification of 'generation rent' - a generation with no realistic prospect of owning their own home in the next five years.

In 2012 we repeated the study. Some key findings from the 2012 report include:

Half of 20-45 year olds think that Britain will become a nation of renters within a generation.

Reliance on the Bank of Mum and Dad leaves a third of parents concerned for their own financial future.

You can read a fact sheet about Generation Rent here.

You can read the 2011 report here. 

Potential policy impact

The implications of Generation Rent are socio-economic. There could be fewer homeowners able to buy which could result in a slowing down in the housing market. It could open up a widening of the wealth gap that already exists between home-owners and non home-owners, particularly as people in Generation Rent risk insufficient finances at retirement.

Our methods

The 2012 study was based on the results of an online survey of 8,042 20-45 year olds, along with 1000 parents with children aged 20-45.

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