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The available evidence does not verify the claim that a third of renters say they will never afford a home. Two older UK surveys do show that many renters wanted to buy but doubted they could: in 2019, 59% of renters who wanted to own thought they never would. That is a dated measure of sentiment, not a current estimate—and it does not establish what is holding people back today.
What do the surveys actually say?
The figures differ by year, sample and question, so they should not be treated as interchangeable or as evidence for the headline’s “a third” claim.
| Survey | What it reported | What the figure means |
|---|---|---|
| HomeOwners Alliance, 2019 | More than three quarters of UK renter households wanted to own a home; 59% of that aspiring group thought they would never be able to. The write-up says YouGov polled more than 2,000 UK adults. | The 59% applies to renters who wanted to own, not to all renters. It is a 2019 snapshot of expectations. HomeOwners Alliance’s 2019 account also covered rental conditions. |
| Knight Frank-commissioned YouGov poll, reported in 2014 | 24% of 3,500 private tenant respondents expected to always be renting. | This is a separate poll with a different population and wording, reported by International Business Times UK. It is not a current measure. |
Neither source establishes the original publisher, field dates, sample, geography or exact question behind the “a third” figure. Without that information, the claim cannot be checked or responsibly attributed.
What might be making homeownership feel out of reach?
The sources offer context, not a current causal accounting. They do not measure how much wages, home prices, rents, deposit requirements or mortgage costs each contribute to renters’ ability to buy.
Prices and housing supply
In the 2014 report, Knight Frank’s then-head of UK Residential Research, Grainne Gilmore, linked longer-term private renting partly to housing supply failing to keep pace with demand and rising house prices, particularly in major employment hubs. This is an attributed explanation from that period, not proof of the present-day causes or their relative weight.
Rental conditions and the ability to plan
The 2019 HomeOwners Alliance write-up described renter concerns including poor-quality homes, limited choice, difficulty obtaining essential repairs, cold and damp conditions, and insecure or short-term tenancies. These concerns may affect renters’ housing experience, but the survey does not show that they caused people to be unable to save for a deposit or qualify for a mortgage.
Routes to ownership can bring trade-offs
The same 2019 account discussed Help to Buy as a way to address a deposit hurdle and described shared ownership as buying a share of a home while paying rent on the rest. Respondents also raised concerns about combining mortgage, rent, lease and upkeep costs. Those are historical descriptions and opinions, not current scheme terms or advice about whether either route suits an individual.
How to assess a route to buying
Do not compare options on the deposit alone. For any scheme or property, check the full cost and obligations against your circumstances:
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- Upfront cash: Find out the deposit, fees and other purchase costs required for the specific option.
- Monthly housing cost: Include mortgage payments, any rent, service or other fees, and expected upkeep—not just the advertised mortgage figure.
- Eligibility and location: Confirm current rules and availability for the scheme, property and area you are considering.
- Repairs and maintenance: Establish who is responsible for repairs and what costs could fall to you.
- Tenure and lease terms: Read the agreement carefully, including lease obligations and any limits or conditions.
- Equity: Check what portion, if any, of the home you own and how additional ownership or resale works under the current terms.
The 2019 survey account does not supply current prices, eligibility criteria or availability for these routes. Check the current terms with the relevant scheme or provider before making a financial decision.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What renters can conclude from this evidence
Older UK surveys document substantial desire to own alongside pessimism about whether it is possible. They do not substantiate the specific “a third” statistic, show that renter attitudes are unchanged today, or prove a single reason people cannot buy. The 2019 and 2014 results are best read as historical snapshots, not as a forecast of an individual renter’s prospects.
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