Keys to the future: Making homeownership accessible without the 'bank of mum and dad'

Keys to the future
By Palma Oxley
Published 26 October 2026
Topics Housing

Most people aspire to own their own home. Homeownership offers the promise of a stable foundation, settling down in a community, having children, and getting married.

However, becoming a homeowner has become harder since the start of the century. House prices have risen faster than incomes, people have struggled to save, and mortgage rules have restricted who can borrow. Rates of homeownership steadily declined after the 2008 financial crisis and have failed to recover. This has left many potential first-time buyers feeling trapped. Those who lack affluent, homeowning parents are increasingly left behind, while others find themselves dependent on the “bank of mum and dad”.

In this report, Palma Oxley examines changes in homeownership rates, explores the barriers to getting onto the property ladder, and proposes solutions to help aspiring first-time buyers and future generations own a home.

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Palma Oxley

Palma is a researcher at the Fabian Society.

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