Decade of rises bars young people from housing market

Despite this, fewer younger adults are living at home with their parents than ten years ago, according to new census figures.

The Office for National Statistics data shows house prices in South Tyneside have risen by an average of 38.22% between the 2011 census and 2021 –£104,722 to £144,747 – leaving many first-time buyers struggling to get into the housing market.

But figures from the 2021 census show 12,645 non-dependent children – either over-18 or between 16 and 18 but not in full-time education – were living in their family home – marginally down from 13,727 in 2011.

This bucks the trend in England and Wales, where the number of non-dependent children living at home rose by 14.7% in the last 10 years, from 4.2 million to 4.9 million.

Angus Hanton, co-founder of the charity Intergenerational Foundation – which campaigns for fairness across the different generations – said: "As these figures make plain, a toxic combination of high housing and energy costs, high tax rates, and low wages, has driven millions of young people back to the family home or kept them their, instead of striking out on their own.

"Inter-generational fairness is at risk if our children and grandchildren are unable to achieve the same milestones enjoyed by previous generations.”

He added: "What most parents want is for their children to do better than them.

"The census shows that, for many, their children face markedly worse prospects."

The data also shows that, in England and Wales, the average house price climbed by 56% – from £176,000 to £275,000 – between 2011 and 2021.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said it is providing "significant support" to help people through the cost-of-living crisis.

A spokesperson said: "Our Renters Reform Bill will deliver a fairer deal for renters, abolishing no-fault evictions so that all tenants have greater security in their homes."

They said it is also investing £11.5bn to build affordable homes.