Getting onto the property ladder has always required financial discipline. But according to Mojo Mortgages' First-Time Buyer Sentiment Survey 2026, which polled 1,000 first-time buyers across the UK, the real cost of homeownership is being paid in something far more personal: time, opportunity, and major life milestones.
While these findings highlight a growing trend of milestone deferral in the pursuit of homeownership, online mortgage broker, Mojo Mortgages, is committed to changing the way the UK approaches mortgages, with expert guidance featured throughout this release and further support available for free through Mojo Mortgages advisors.
Nearly a quarter of first-time buyers say they have stayed in a toxic job to get on the property ladder
More than one in five respondents (22%) admitted they stayed, or are still staying, in a toxic job for longer than they wanted to, in order to protect their mortgage eligibility and savings. “The fear of losing financial stability or disrupting a deposit fund is, for many, outweighing their own professional wellbeing. It's a trade-off that speaks to the immense psychological pressure of trying to buy in today's market,” states Kayleigh Jackson, Mortgages Sales Manager at Mojo Mortgages.
According to the survey data, 22% of first-time buyers have remained trapped in a toxic work environment longer than desired in order to protect their mortgage eligibility and savings. Maintaining a steady employment history is also required by lenders, which can make people feel as though they cannot change jobs around the time they are also looking to buy a home.
When people feel their future home depends entirely on their current paycheck, walking away from a bad but ‘well-paying’ job feels less like a career choice and more like an entirely life-changing choice.
Jackson comments: "No one should feel forced to choose between their mental health and their dream of homeownership. If you are feeling trapped in a toxic role, remember that a career move doesn't automatically ruin your mortgage chances. Speaking to a mortgage advisor early on can help alleviate this immense pressure. An advisor can look at your specific situation, help you understand how different lenders view job changes or probationary periods, and map out a financial plan that protects both your peace of mind and your property goals."
This prolonged exposure to workplace toxicity doesn't just erode personal wellbeing, it actively bleeds into romantic relationships. The strain becomes particularly acute for couples, where individuals feel immense pressure not to let their partner down by jeopardising their half of the deposit and contribution to affordability.
Over 1 in 6 first-time buyers say saving for a home has caused more arguments with their partner
Beyond delayed milestones, the survey uncovers something more uncomfortable: the strain that the pursuit of homeownership is placing on first-time buyers' relationships, careers and personal wellbeing.
The impact on romantic relationships is equally revealing. Over 16% of respondents said that saving for a home caused more arguments with their partner, an often-overlooked source of relationship strain that rarely features in conversations about housing affordability. Meanwhile, over 13% said they remained in a relationship longer than they wanted to, simply because they couldn't afford to live alone. The financial trap of shared housing costs is, for some, becoming a relationship trap too.
Life on Hold: 37% of respondents say they had to rent for longer than planned, whilst 15% had to move back in with parents
The survey results reveal more than a third of first-time buyers (37%) said they rented for longer than they had originally planned, forced to keep paying someone else's mortgage while their own deposit target edged further away.
Whilst nearly 1 in 10 (9%) said saving for a home delayed their marriage, perhaps most telling is the impact on family planning. Nearly 1 in 5 respondents (19%) said that saving for a home caused them to delay expanding their family - whether that meant having a first child or having more children. For a generation already navigating rising living costs and stagnant wage growth, the dream of homeownership is increasingly being weighed against the idea of starting a family.
The data also reveals a significant generational pressure point around living arrangements. Nearly 15% of all respondents said they moved back in with their parents to save, but among 18 to 34-year-olds specifically, that figure rises to nearly 17%, meaning more than 1 in 6 younger first-time buyers have had to take this step. Jackson comments, “While returning home can offer a financial lifeline, it represents a meaningful reversal of independence for many. These findings paint a picture of a housing market that isn't just financially demanding, it's actively reshaping the life plans of an entire generation of buyers.”
The Mojo Mortgages First-Time Buyer Sentiment Survey 2026 makes clear that the UK's housing challenge is no longer just an economic issue - it is a social one, with consequences rippling outward into careers, relationships, family structures, and life trajectories.
