Owner-occupiers aged 60 and over hold the majority (55%) of the UK’s net housing wealth, according to analysis from property firm Savills. The total housing equity held by this age group is estimated at £3.84 trillion, of which approximately £2.92 trillion is in main residences, with the remainder in buy-to-let investments and other residential holdings.
Lucian Cook, head of residential research at Savills, said: “Housing is clearly a massive store of wealth in the UK, especially for older homeowners who hold high proportions of both owner-occupier and buy-to-let housing wealth.” He noted that much of this wealth is concentrated in London and the South East, where owner-occupiers aged 60 and over alone hold just over £1 trillion in net housing wealth.
Cook added that while first-time buyer transactions have increased following mortgage regulation relaxation, the transfer of equity between generations will remain a prominent feature of the housing market. He also suggested that pressure on private landlords may unlock some housing wealth as older investors cash in on gains, but overcoming barriers to downsizing could have a bigger overall impact.
