New research by Ipsos MORI for housing and homelessness charity Shelter finds 74% of people in younger Generations X and Y of the view that it is harder for them to get a home to settle down in – either as a homeowner or a renter – than it was for their parents’ generation. This compares to only 44% of people born in the Baby Boomer or Pre-War years. All generations expect the housing situation to get worse for future ones, but Generation Y are especially worried about their own prospects; 40% agree that ‘I worry I may never be able to secure a suitable long-term home’.

1. Great Homes Debate Survey

2. 2
Gen Y much less likely to have got on ladder
Base: 1,906 GB adults 15+, 12 Feb-6 March 2016 Source: Ipsos MORI/Shelter
If you have ever lived in a home that you owned with a mortgage or bought outright, how
old were you when you bought your FIRST home?
59
21
68
80
84
39
78
29
17
12
Total
Generation Y (18-35)
Generation X (36-49)
Baby Boomers (50-69)
Pre-war generation (70+)
% ever bought % never bought

3. 3
…or lived in a ‘long-term’ home
Base: 1,906 GB adults 15+, 12 Feb-6 March 2016 Source: Ipsos MORI/Shelter
Have you bought or rented a home that you planned to live in for the long-term, by which I
mean 10 years or more?
60
22
66
84
90
40
78
34
16
10
Total
Generation Y (18-35)
Generation X (36-49)
Baby Boomers (50-69)
Pre-war generation (70+)
% yes % no

4. 4
Most think current home meets needs
Base: 1,906 GB adults 15+, 12 Feb-6 March 2016 Source: Ipsos MORI/Shelter
Agree/disagree – “My current home meets my needs (and my family if applicable) for the
foreseeable future”
85
78
81
90
94
6
9
8
4
9
13
12
4
4
Total
Generation Y (18-35)
Generation X (36-49)
Baby Boomers (50-69)
Pre-war generation (70+)
% agree % disagree

5. 5
Gen Y recognise has been/is harder for them
Base: 1,906 GB adults 15+, 12 Feb-6 March 2016 Source: Ipsos MORI/Shelter
Agree/disagree – “It was/is harder for people my age to buy or rent a home to settle down in
than it was for my parents’ generation”
61
81
63
45
42
15
12
17
16
18
22
5
20
37
39
Total
Generation Y (18-35)
Generation X (36-49)
Baby Boomers (50-69)
Pre-war generation (70+)
% agree % disagree

6. 6
All think harder for next generation
Base: 1,906 GB adults 15+, 12 Feb-6 March 2016 Source: Ipsos MORI/Shelter
Agree/disagree – “It will be harder for children today to buy or rent a home to settle down in
than it is/was for people my age”
85
77
87
90
86
10
17
8
5
6
4
4
4
4
7
Total
Generation Y (18-35)
Generation X (36-49)
Baby Boomers (50-69)
Pre-war generation (70+)
% agree % disagree

7. 7
¾ say will never be able to buy/rent a home to
Base: 1,906 GB adults 15+, 12 Feb-6 March 2016 Source: Ipsos MORI/Shelter
Agree/disagree – “I worry that future generations will never
be able to buy or rent a home they can settle down in”
74
70
78
76
73
15
21
11
12
16
11
9
11
12
11
Total
Generation Y (18-35)
Generation X (36-49)
Baby Boomers (50-69)
Pre-war generation (70+)
% agree % disagree
settle down in

8. 8
Gen Y especially worried about prospects
Base: 1,906 GB adults 15+, 12 Feb-6 March 2016 Source: Ipsos MORI/Shelter
Agree/disagree – “I worry I may never be able to secure a suitable long-term home”
23
40
16
17
6
15
21
19
7
14
61
38
65
76
80
Total
Generation Y (18-35)
Generation X (36-49)
Baby Boomers (50-69)
Pre-war generation (70+)
% agree % disagree

9. 9
Summary: ever and never
Gen Y
Gen X
Baby boomers
Pre-war
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 10 20 30 40 50
% agree I worry I may never be able to secure a suitable long-term home
Base: 1,906 GB adults 15+, 12 Feb-6 March 2016 Source: Ipsos MORI/Shelter
% ever bought or rented a home planned to live in for long-term (10 years or so)
ABC1 = higher managers, professionals, administrators, C2DE = skilled/unskilled manual occupations, or reliant on state benefit

10. ben.marshall@ipsos.com
harry.evans@ipsos.com