In 2024, the average age of recent first-time buyers in London was slightly higher than the England average. Across the UK, first-time buyers accounted for approximately ******* home sales. First-time buyer prices and mortgages In London, the average value of a mortgage for first-time buyers was far higher than all other regions in the UK. Apart from the initial cost of a down payment, those that can afford to, see monthly payment savings against those renting. In certain parts of the country, annual savings of buying against renting saw first time buyers amounted to over ************ British pounds. Help to buy To encourage first-time buyers, the UK government started the "Help to buy" scheme. The scheme sees people saving for a first-time home receive a ***********bonus to their savings when purchasing a house valued at ******* British pounds (******* British pounds in London). Between December 2015 and March 2018, the North West of England saw the highest number of Help to buy ISA bonuses paid.

UK adults aged 35 to 44 were most likely to have a mortgage loan in 2022, with more than half of the respondents in a nationally representative survey sharing that they held one in their own name or joint names. The average for the country stood at 28 percent at that time. Among older generations, the percentage of mortgage holders declined, as these were more likely to have already paid off their mortgage.

About 36 percent of homeowners in England were aged 65 and above, which contrasts sharply with younger age groups, particularly those under 35. Young adults between 25 and 35, made up 15 percent of homeowners and had a dramatically lower homeownership rate. The disparity highlights the growing challenges faced by younger generations in entering the property market, a trend that has significant implications for wealth distribution and social mobility. Barriers to homeownership for young adults The path to homeownership has become increasingly difficult for young adults in the UK. A 2023 survey revealed that mortgage affordability was the greatest obstacle to property purchase. This represents a 39 percent increase from 2021, reflecting the impact of rising house prices and mortgage rates. Despite these challenges, one in three young adults still aspire to get on the property ladder as soon as possible, though many have put their plans on hold. The need for additional financial support from family, friends, and lenders has become more prevalent, with one in five young adults acknowledging this necessity. Regional disparities and housing supply The housing market in England faces regional challenges, with North West England and the West Midlands experiencing the largest mismatch between housing supply and demand in 2023. This imbalance is evident in the discrepancy between new homes added to the housing stock and the number of new households formed. London, despite showing signs of housing shortage, has seen the largest difference between homes built and households formed. The construction of new homes has been volatile, with a significant drop in 2020, a rebound in 2021 and a gradual decline until 2024.

The distribution of all owner-occupier households in England in 2024 varied per age group, as well as the type of home financing. The older the age group, the larger the share of owner-occupier homeowners who purchased their home outright. A share of 2.1 percent of own outright homeowners were between the ages of 25 to 34, whereas a share of 62.1 percent of own outright homeowners were aged 65 and over. Although this is the case, the largest share of homeowners who purchased their house with a mortgage was in the age range of 35 to 44 years old.

Average weekly household expenditure on goods and services in the UK. Data are shown by region, age, income (including equivalised) group (deciles and quintiles), economic status, socio-economic class, housing tenure, output area classification, urban and rural areas (Great Britain only), place of purchase and household composition.

Expenditure on rent by renters and mortgages by mortgage holders, by region and age from the Living Costs and Food Survey for the financial year ending 2022. Data is presented as a proportion of total expenditure and a proportion of disposable income.

The number of bonuses paid out compared to the number of total property completions by age group in the United Kingdom (UK) in the 'help to buy' scheme between December 2015 and June 2023 varied by age group. Those aged between 25 and 34 years old used the help to buy scheme and received bonuses as well as making property completions far more than any other age group; 25 to 34 year old's received over 482,231 bonuses and made approximately 370,120 property completions.

70% of White British households owned their own homes – the highest percentage out of all ethnic groups.

In the 2 years to March 2023, White British households spent 28% of their weekly income on rent payments on average – the lowest percentage out of all ethnic groups.

This statistic displays the distribution of average amount of debt resulting from loans in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, by age group. Adults aged between 35 and 44 years of age had the highest amount of debt in loans, with an average of over *** thousand British pounds. Those aged over 75 years had the lowest average debt in personal loans, with an average of *** British pounds in 2017.

These National Statistics provide monthly estimates of the number of residential and non-residential property transactions in the UK and its constituent countries. National Statistics are accredited official statistics.

England and Northern Ireland statistics are based on information submitted to the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) database by taxpayers on SDLT returns.

Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) replaced SDLT in Scotland from 1 April 2015 and this data is provided to HMRC by https://www.revenue.scot/" class="govuk-link">Revenue Scotland to continue the time series.

Land Transaction Tax (LTT) replaced SDLT in Wales from 1 April 2018. To continue the time series, the https://gov.wales/welsh-revenue-authority" class="govuk-link">Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) have provided HMRC with a monthly data feed of LTT transactions since July 2021.

LTT figures for the latest month are estimated using a grossing factor based on data for the most recent and complete financial year. Until June 2021, LTT transactions for the latest month were estimated by HMRC based upon year on year growth in line with other UK nations.

LTT transactions up to the penultimate month are aligned with LTT statistics.

Go to Stamp Duty Land Tax guidance for the latest rates and information.

Go to Stamp Duty Land Tax rates from 1 December 2003 to 22 September 2022 and Stamp Duty: rates on land transfers before December 2003 for historic rates.

The latest release was published 09:30 27 June 2025 and was updated with provisional data from completed transactions during May 2025.

The next release will be published 09:30 31 July 2025 and will be updated with provisional data from completed transactions during June 2025.

https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20240320184933/https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/monthly-property-transactions-completed-in-the-uk-with-value-40000-or-above" class="govuk-link">Archive versions of the Monthly property transactions completed in the UK with value of £40,000 or above are available via the UK Government Web Archive, from the National Archives.

Housing affordability in the UK has worsened notably since 2020, with the share of income spent on mortgage rising for first-time and repeat buyers. In 2023, homebuyers spent, on average, 20.6 percent of their income on mortgage payments, 4.4 percentage points higher than in 2020. This increase was higher for first-time buyers than for repeat buyers. House prices have soared since the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a dramatic increase in interest rates. As fewer people can afford to buy a home, the number of mortgage approvals for house purchase has dropped.

In 2025, students graduating from English universities will have incurred an average of 53,000 British pounds of student loan debt, compared with 39,000 pounds in Wales, 28,000 pounds in Northern Ireland, and around 18,000 pounds in Scotland.

This statistic displays the share of adults in the Untied Kingdom (UK) that outright own their home in 2020, by age group. There is a clear correlation between age and home ownership with 76 percent of those between 65 and 74 years owning their dwelling outright. Among adults aged between 18 and 24 only one percent own their home outright. A similar trend is observed when it comes to home ownership by age group.

The mortgage prevalence among homeowners in Europe varied widely across different countries in 2023. About ** percent of the total population in Norway was a homeowner, with ** percent paying out a mortgage loan. Conversely, only *** percent of households in Romania had a mortgage, with nearly ** percent being homeowners. Meanwhile, an average of ** percent of the total population within the EU-27 was an owner-occupant with a mortgage or housing loan. Homeownership depends on multiple factors, such as housing policy, the macroeconomic situation, the state of the housing sector, and the availability of finance. Countries with more developed mortgage markets tend to have lower mortgage interest rates.

This statistic displays the average debt amount owed in student loans to the Student Loans Company in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, by age group. In that time, 18 to 24 year olds owed the most in student loan, with an average debt of over ************** British pounds. Adults in age group ** to ** still owed debt from student loans, with an average amount owed of ** British pounds.

This statistic displays the average amount of debt resulting from motor finance loans in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017, by age group. Adults aged between 45 and 54 years of age had the highest amount of debt in motor finance, with an average of over 1.1 thousand British pounds. Those aged over 75 years had the lowest average debt in motor finance loans, with an average of 200 British pounds in 2017.

When comparing the mortgage or rental costs incurred by owners with mortgage, private renters and social renters in England, private renters pay a considerably larger share of their income than the other two groups. While owner occupiers with mortgages paid approximately **** percent of their income on mortgage in 2024, private renters paid ** percent, or more than *********. In terms of average monthly costs, renting a three-bedroom house is more expensive than buying.