More houses sold to young first-time buyers as landlords sell up

Young first-time buyers are finding it easier to find a house, despite prices rising by 6% last year, according to figures compiled by mortgage adviser De Hypotheker.

People buying their first home accounted for more than half of all sales in 2025, while 11% of first-time buyers were under the age of 25. The previous year the proportion was just 4%.

The increase is partly due to a sell-off by private landlords as new rent controls have made the market less attractive for investors. Between July and September last year the number of homes sold by investors was up by 37% year-on-year.

Young people are also increasingly relying on financial support from their parents to acquire their first home, De Hypotheker said.

The agency said it was concerned that younger buyers were more likely to buy a house without seeking assurances about the state of the property.

Commercial director Mark de Rijke said he expected the trend to continue in 2026. “There will still be a large number of cheaper houses for sale in the coming year,” he said.