A Young People's Charter on Housing

The shortage of affordable housing means that young people face major constraints in their housing choices. This generates increasing pressure to get their first move into the housing market right or risk losing out altogether. With many young people still aspiring to home-ownership, what are their experiences of moving through the housing system? What changes would they like to see? This paper summarises evidence from four projects led by young people aged under 30 across the UK examining their peers’ experiences, housing choices and hopes for the future, and sets out the changes young people feel would help them make the right housing choices. Key points: - Home was a crucial concept for young people. For many it was synonymous with their family. The care, support and security of family were crucial to a smooth transition from living with parents to living independently. - Young people saw independent living as a challenging but rewarding process, with benefits in terms of personal freedom and growing confidence. Descriptions of living independently ranged from paying your own way without any support to getting along mostly on your own. - There was a clear divergence in housing aspirations. Many young people aspired to own their own home. Some wanted social rented housing. This was usually in lieu of family support. Private rented housing was seen as a temporary option for those aspiring to home-ownership. - Few young people had achieved home-ownership. Views on the private rented sector diverged; some saw it as part of a bigger housing journey while others felt there was no other option. Lack of stability within the private rented sector was a key issue for the latter group. The stability offered by the social rented sector was seen as crucial by those living there, suggesting that its role as a safety net should not be overlooked. - Information, advice and support were important for all young people. They called for more information across all housing options and a more flexible approach encompassing low-level support. Professional advice was seen as particularly crucial for young people without family support.