Soaring rents and the cost of living crisis mean there are 620,000 more adult children now living with their parents than a decade ago, figures from the 2021 census show.
There has been an almost 15% rise in the number of “non dependant adult children” living in their parents’ home, taking the number to 4.9 million.
Here, three young people in the UK share why they’re living with family in their 20s.
‘I’ve got a good home life so it’s a win-win’
View image in fullscreenChloe Kerfoot. Photograph: Chloe Kerfoot
After leaving college in 2020, Chloe Kerfoot, 21, opted to keep living in her family home while completing an apprenticeship. She is glad to be living with her parents and younger brother in West Yorkshire over living in a flatshare. “I have a great relationship with my family; I’m loved, cared for and have their full support,” says Kerfoot, who works in marketing. “I help around the house and I’ve got a good home life so it’s a win-win really.” She pays £250 toward her board and says living at home has allowed her to save money.
“I’ve got a good balance – I go to work, go to the gym most evenings, then go home for a bit of a chin-wag with my family. I see my friends now and then. A lot of it is being able to have a good life – you can just buy the things you want [like] gym gear and nice new trainers. I can go out with my friends and not worry about being able to pay rent.
“You obviously get a little bit of strain, when [I’m asked] ‘What time are you coming home?’ You do lose that little bit of freedom – I’ve got to let them know to leave bolt off the door if I’m out. But I’ve got it really good – I know people go to uni to get away from home.”
Kerfoot says she would struggle to afford to rent alone. “It’s not looking good in terms of being a single person trying to rent a property. In a few years when I’ve progressed in my career, I’ll look at if it’s possible or not. I don’t want to house-share, if I want a house I want my own house or with a partner. Otherwise, I’d rather live at home.”
‘Most of my friends still live at home’
Joe Pollitt, 24. Photograph: Guardian Community
Joe Pollitt, 24, an assistant quantity surveyor from Bolton, has lived with his father since he was 18. He has long wanted to move out of the family home, but was stymied by the pandemic.
After leaving school Pollit embarked on a degree apprenticeship and worked for two different quantity surveying firms, which went bust in 2020 and 2021.
“I now work for a big public company, so there’s more stability – but the pandemic affected my social life, and still does really.” he says. “It’s kind of like everyone’s lost touch with each other, especially my friends in my age group. I don’t see as many people as I used to, and not as often – maybe once or twice a month. I had quite a big friendship group before the pandemic. I’m stuck at home a lot of time as well and it’s even harder now with the cost of living.”
His priorities shifted again after his father, 51, suffered a stroke in June 2022. “I have been left responsible for his primary care. He’d been working as a truck driver but he partially lost his vision. I cook, clean, take him to doctor appointments and then try to fit my personal life and work around it. It’s been quite hard to find that balance recently.
“The possibility of being able to live on my own at some point seems to be dwindling as everything is so expensive and it’s unaffordable to live by myself. At the moment, I contribute about £500 a month in rent and I’m trying to put away £500 a month in savings, which is slow.”
But Joe knows he isn’t alone. “I’d say most of my friends still live at home and aren’t married. Only a few have even moved out to rent or buy a house.”
‘The reality of house prices is something I have no choice but to accept’
Hannah, 27, moved back in to her mother’s home in Dorset after her relationship ended in late 2021. She is trying to save for a deposit, though she says she won’t be able to afford to buy locally near her family and friends. “Your rent doubles when you live alone – it’s like a single person tax. I’ve previously done stuff like SpareRoom and it’s worse than living with parents. And so much money would go to rent that it doesn’t make sense to move out – I’m trying to save up for a deposit in the next couple years. My friends who rent aren’t able to save.” Hannah says she doesn’t pay rent but covers maintenance costs around the home.
Hannah has a good relationship with her mother, but there are challenges to returning to the family home. “If you want to bring a partner back or have a romantic relationship – – it feels like you’re a teen again. Fortunately, my mum is a delight so having to move back in with her has made me appreciate how lucky I am in the family department.
“I’ve felt that I need my own space and home for several years and really long for it but the reality of house prices is something I have no choice but to accept.”
