New research shows that single earners in the UK who are earning an average income are being increasingly locked out of the housing market. With property inflation and the current economic climate, renting independently - or even living rent-free in high-cost areas - first-time buyers could face decades-long timelines to afford just an average property.
Boon Brokers analysed data on average incomes, house prices, property inflation, monthly living costs, and rent costs across different regions across the UK, modelling two scenarios: Renting privately while saving each month, or living rent-free with family to maximise savings potential.
The research found that it is impossible for a single earner who is renting to save enough to buy an average property in London or Bristol, and it would take 157+ years for a single earner who is renting to save enough to buy an average property in Cambridge.
Locked out of the housing market by renting
Single earners renting privately on an average income face an increasingly unrealistic path to homeownership. In high-cost areas like London and Bristol, monthly outgoings exceed earnings, leaving renters unable to save at all.
In London, the average net income (£3,108) is insufficient to cover rent (£2,087) and living costs (£1,058), leaving a monthly deficit of £37. Bristol renters can expect an even larger shortfall of £261.60.
Even in cities where saving is technically possible, timelines are extreme. In Cambridge, a single renter earning an average income could save £224 per month, yet it would take over 157 years - two lifetimes - to accumulate enough for an average property deposit.
Manchester and Leeds, with lower property prices, still require 35+ and 20+ years of savings respectively. Research showed that only in cities like Liverpool and Glasgow could renters realistically afford a property within three to four years.
Family support holds the key for first-time buyers
In the best case-scenario of living rent-free, data showed a dramatic improvement for a single earner’s ability to save, with only high-cost areas remaining to be a challenge. In London, a single earner on the average net income of £3,108, saving £2,049 per month, would still take 16.7 years to afford an average home. Bristol requires 13.4 years, while Cambridge needs 13 years.
The research showed that more mid-cost cities can be much more attainable without the expenditure of rent. Manchester, Leeds, and Edinburgh all see affordability achievable within 4.8, 4.75, and 5.7 years respectively, while Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle, and Nottingham fall into a three-to-four-year timeline. Glasgow and Liverpool offer the quickest route into homeownership of an average property price, with rent-free living allowing single earners to reach affordability in just one to two years.
The research found a clear pattern: in today’s market, first-time buyers are increasingly reliant on external financial support to realistically enter the property ladder, otherwise they face either impossibly long or highly arduous timelines.
The inflation barrier to buying a home
The research also explored how rising property prices are continuing to shape the UK housing market, finding inflation to be an additional significant barrier for single earners who are also faced with the constant financial expense of independently renting. Even modest annual increases compound over time, making deposits increasingly difficult to reach. Income growth has failed to keep pace with housing inflation, with average UK house prices rising 3.9% in the 12 months to May 2025, while weekly earnings increased only marginally.
High-cost areas such as London, Bristol, and Cambridge demonstrate the sharpest inequalities. For single earners renting, homeownership is often mathematically impossible; for those living rent-free, the timeline remains long and dependent on external support.
Gerard Boon, managing director of Boon Brokers, commented: "The data highlights just how challenging homeownership has become for single earners. Without a gifted deposit or the support of a partner, buying an average property is likely to remain out of reach until later in life. Rising property costs mean that for many, achieving homeownership may never keep pace with house price growth."
