Figures show that 193,500 fewer first-time buyers have bought a home in the last 12 months compared to 2006. Most of these potential buyers have remained in the rental sector and many are in flatshares.
Just over 3 out of every 10 respondents (34%) from easyroommate.co.uk’s latest survey said they were currently flatsharing in order to save for a house deposit or while waiting for the ideal moment to buy.
Jonathan Moore, director of easyroommate.co.uk, said: “Despite the falls in prices, it’s still massively difficulty to get on the housing market.
“It’s virtually impossible for anyone who isn’t tapping up the Royal Bank of Mum and Dad to afford a house. But it’s difficult to rent someone on your own and squirrel away for an enormous deposit at the same time.
“Plenty of renters – but first-time buyers in particular – look to flatshare as a means to lower their outgoings and make substantial savings towards a house deposit.
“Although many stay at home with their parents, the flatshare population is also being swelled by an increase in post-graduate students and net immigration, which has slowed but is still growing.”
