A third of renters are saving £100 a month or less and face a 35-year slog to get on the property ladder – with the goalposts moving if house prices climb.
According to data from Connells, part of the Skipton Group, the current average first-time buyer deposit stands at £41,403, with properties they are buying averaging £243,883. This means those starting from scratch face decades of saving just to reach today’s deposit levels, with the gap only likely to widen if house prices continue to rise.
The research by Skipton Building Society of 1,000 renters aspiring to buy found 73 per cent feel ‘locked out’ of the property ladder, with 45 per cent blaming high rents for making it difficult to save. In fact, 32 per cent are spending 40 to 60 per cent or more of their salary on rent each month, far exceeding the 30 per cent affordability rule of thumb.
As a result, 68 per cent say they feel they are putting their lives on hold in order to afford a first property while continuing to pay rent. The majority (94 per cent) have been forced to make sacrifices, from holidays (49 per cent) and socialising (45 per cent) to delaying major life plans, like marriage or having kids (20 per cent).
Two in five (43 per cent) said these sacrifices have had a negative impact on their mental health.
The research was commissioned by Skipton Building Society to mark the third anniversary of its Track Record mortgage, which offers up to 100% loan-to-value to help eligible renters with a strong payment history buy a home with zero deposit.
To celebrate, it hosted a “Locked Out” pop-up, featuring a locked door to symbolise renters being shut out of homeownership, alongside a box of keys with only one opening the door and a chance to win a financial boost. The event was hosted by The Traitors winner Harry Clark, who, despite his win, is currently saving for his first home after moving back in with his parents.
He said: “People often assume that if you win a show like The Traitors, you’ll go straight out and buy a house – but it’s not always that simple. “I was 22 when I won, and at the time I had other priorities. I also made the decision to step away from my full-time job and am now self-employed, exploring new opportunities while supporting my family and making the most of everything that came from the show.
“More recently, I’ve moved back in with my parents to help me save, and I’ve realised first-hand just how tough it can be to get onto the property ladder – even when you’re doing all the right things.
“Speaking to renters at the event, it was clear so many people are facing the same challenges. It’s not always about being able to afford a mortgage, it’s about overcoming that initial barrier of a deposit. That’s why it’s so important that we’re seeing more innovative solutions like the Track Record mortgage to help people get started.
“Hopefully this campaign helps people see that there are different routes onto the property ladder, and that owning a home could be more achievable than they might think. I certainly learned a lot on the day and came away with options I’ll be exploring myself.”
The research also found 82 per cent agree that if they can afford their rent, it should be enough to prove they can afford a mortgage. However, when it comes to saving for a deposit while renting, 35 per cent say they now feel stressed about money all the time. The same proportion added process feels long and exhausting, while 30 per cent admit they are anxious about their future.
But despite the financial pressures and challenges they face, 32 per cent believe it will be worth it in the end, according to the survey carried out by OnePoll. When asked what would help most, 34 per cent pointed to lower deposit requirements, while 31 per cent want to see more genuinely affordable homes being built.
A quarter would like lenders to better recognise their ability to afford mortgage payments based on rent, while 24 per cent cited the need for more flexible or accessible mortgage options.
Jen Lloyd, Head of Mortgage Products and Proposition at Skipton Building Society, said: “Getting onto the property ladder is becoming increasingly challenging for renters, as they try to balance the cost of living with saving for a deposit and all the other associated costs that come with buying your first home. The figures in our latest research are a stark reminder of the pressures many are facing, often despite already demonstrating they can afford significant monthly housing costs.
“In many cases, renters are already meeting payments comparable to a mortgage, but the barrier of saving a deposit continues to hold them back. We believe it’s only fair that people who have demonstrated they can afford regular rental payments have a real opportunity to become homeowners, even if high rental costs have made it difficult for them to save for a deposit.
But buying a property can unlock much more than homeownership – it can provide greater stability, support long-term wellbeing, and give people the confidence to move forward with major life plans.
“This year also marks three years since the launch our Track Record mortgage, which was created to provide an innovative solution for renters who may feel trapped in the rental cycle. Since launch, it has helped more than a thousand renters take their first step onto the property ladder, with many buying a home without any deposit at all. In fact, more than half are now paying less on their mortgage each month than they previously did in rent.”
