‘Trapped in flatshares’ - London renters stuck with housemates as high costs block first homes
With the average UK rent now £1,354 a month (and much higher in the capital) new research reveals that young Londoners are staying in shared homes far longer than planned, struggling to save for deposits or find affordable independence.
For many young Londoners, the dream of owning a home feels further away than ever.
New research from lifetime ISA provider OneFamily shows that rising rents are forcing a generation to remain in flatshares long after they’d hoped to move on, often at the expense of privacy, peace and personal space.
According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the average monthly rent in the UK has hit £1,354, while in London it now exceeds £2,000, leaving many with little chance to save for a deposit.
Of the 3,000 adults aged 18 to 40 surveyed by OneFamily, four in five have lived with housemates, but a third said they didn’t enjoy the experience.
Top frustrations included lack of privacy (37%), noise (32%), and messy housemates (29%) — with some sharing stories of overflowing sinks, late-night DJ sessions, and even frozen mice in the freezer.
Despite the chaos, saving money remains the primary reason people opt for shared living, with more than a third (36%) stating it’s the only affordable option compared to renting alone.
‘It doesn’t feel like home’
For Lucy Laing, a 42-year-old creative freelancer who has rented across London, the experience is all too familiar.
“You have a limited choice of where you’re going to live because of high rent costs,” she said.
“You end up in places that are meant to feel like home but don’t — and with housemates who don’t respect privacy or personal space. I was paying around £700 a month for a room, but saving for a deposit felt impossible.”
Her story echoes that of thousands of renters across the capital — professionals who are earning but still unable to take the next step on the housing ladder.
‘A generation stuck in shared homes’
Jim Islam, CEO of OneFamily, said the findings highlight a growing divide between renters and homeownership: “We’re seeing a generation stuck in shared homes they’ve long outgrown, not out of choice but because high rents make it nearly impossible to move on. Everyone deserves independence and peace of mind, but for many young people these things now feel like luxuries.”
He added: “Owning your own place used to be a milestone of adulthood. Today, it’s increasingly out of reach for those trying to balance everyday rent with saving for a deposit.”