"Continuously rising accommodation costs across the UK, and particularly in big cities, is causing a housing crisis, especially for young people."
As the housing crisis continues to mean high rental prices for many, people are forced to think outside the box when it comes to accommodation, and it’s millennials feeling the strain the most. More than one in five (22%) of millennials are considering sharing a room (with someone other than a partner) and 9% are even considering sharing a bed (with someone who isn’t their partner) as a way to cut costs. While almost a third (30%) could do without being in a building entirely and opt for a campervan to call their home.
These purse tightening tactics do come at a cost though, as several leave people with no private or personal space to call ones own. A surprising 1 in 5 (20%) of people said they could sacrifice their sex life and 10% of people said they could forgo living in comfort if it meant cheaper rent. However, most are still keen to keep up appearances with only 4% open to compromising on their hygiene. Despite this typically being the time of your life to let your hair down, 45% of young people are also willing to turn their back on an active social life, if it means they can save some money.
Millennials seem to prioritise tech over comfort as the things they would miss the most if they didn’t have access to them are electricity (21%) and wifi (17%) – both coming in above privacy (16%), a shower (15%), an indoor toilet (14%) and a comfortable bed (13%).
Aside from the more conventional options of couch surfing and room sharing, some are getting imaginative with places to live. From the people surveyed, there were claims of friends living under stairs, in cupboards at friends’ flats, in a child’s playhouse, a shipping container, an old aeroplane and even a treehouse.
Gemma Sonfield, Head of Home at comparethemarket.com says “continuously rising accommodation costs across the UK, and particularly in big cities, is causing a housing crisis, especially for young people. Millennials, often towards the start of their career, do not earn the salaries to cover typical rent, let alone the cost of a deposit on a house or flat. People are having to get creative with ways to cut costs and are seeking unusual living arrangements as a big way to save.”
