A third of renters are saving £100 a month or less and face a 35-year wait to get on the property ladder, with the goalposts set to move if house prices climb. Nearly half of renters (45%) also say high rents make it difficult to put money towards their own home.
Deposit savings gap
Data from the Skipton Group shows the current average first-time buyer’s deposit stands at £41,403, with properties they are buying averaging £243,883. This means those starting from nothing may have to save for decades just to reach today’s deposit levels, with the gap only likely to widen if house prices continue to skyrocket.
Three in 10 (32%) renters are spending 40 to 60% or more of their salary on rent each month, far exceeding the 30% affordability rule of thumb. As a result, nearly seven in 10 (68%) say they feel they are ‘putting their lives on hold’ so they can afford their first property while continuing to pay rent.
Sacrifices and mental health impact
The majority (94%) have been forced to make sacrifices, from holidays (49%) and socialising (45%) to delaying major life plans, like marriage or having kids (20%). Two in five (43%) said these sacrifices have had a negative impact on their mental health.
The survey was commissioned by Skipton Building Society to mark three years 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 in Manchester, 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 £3,000 financial boost.
Event highlights and public sentiment
The event was hosted by The Traitors winner Harry Clark, who, despite his win, has moved back home with his parents to save for his first property. The research also found more than eight in 10 (82%) 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% say they now feel stressed about money all the time. The same proportion added the process feels long and exhausting, while exactly three in 10 say they feel anxious about their future. But despite the financial pressures and challenges they face, 32% believe it will be worth it in the end, according to the survey carried out by OnePoll.
Solutions and expert views
When asked what would help most, 34% pointed to lower deposit requirements, while 31% 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% cited the need for more flexible or accessible mortgage options.
Harry Clark 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.”
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 of 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.”
