Social rented sector to see 170,000 increase in young people living with parents - report

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Local Government

The number of young people living with parents in social rented accommodation is set to rise to 870,000 in 2020 - an increase of 170,000 from 2008, a major report warns today.

The figures, released as part of research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, look at the key challenges young people will face in the housing market in 2020.

It warns that a renewed focus is needed on improving the supply of homes with around 1.5 million more young people aged 18–30 pushed towards living in the private rented sector in 2020, reflecting growing problems of accessing both home ownership and social renting.

Using trend-based projections of tenure change, it predicts that the total number of young people living in their own social rented tenancies in 2020 will be 780,000, which represents a decrease of approximately 360,000 when compared with 2008.

Conversely, it predicts that the number of young people living with parents in
social rented accommodation will be 870,000, which equates to an increase of
approximately 170,000 from 2008.

The most significant change the report highlights is increased competition for private rented sector homes from young people unable to access home ownership or social rented accommodation. This, it warns, risks forcing young families out of the private rented sector and into homelessness.

It says social landlords could help tackle the challenges facing young people by helping them to access private rented tenancies and offering more shared tenancy options at local housing allowance rent levels as part of a varied housing offer.