If you live in London and surrounding areas, how many people in your circle own their home

I know 2 renting (both long term rental properties) and one on a 'part buy part rent' scheme.

The rest all straight up mortgaged. 35-40 age group.

I grew up in London and am still here. Everyone I'm friends with from school are all about to turn 40.

I would say that 95% of us own. We have almost ALL moved further out than the zones we grew up in (most of us were z2/3), if not having left London completely.

I don't know how many had parental help, but the general socioeconomic background of a lot of those people would lead me to assume that a good proportion of them did get some sort of support - either a cash lump sum or living at parents' houses in their 20s while saving up for a deposit.

Everyone I know London owns. But without family wealth, I bought in dodgy areas and then benefitted when gentrification happened (but obvs had to live in dodgy areas in order to buy which would dissuade some). My current flat was £175k when I bought it a decade ago. It is in zone 3 and is a 2 bed and garden near tube and overground. Within a year it had doubled and is now probably worth £450k. I have been lucky, but goodness knows how anyone affords those prices. I have consistently overpaid and now have a small mortgage left and will pay it off in the next 2 years.

We had to move out to buy aged 36, but all of our London friends (in our late 30s, early 40s now) bought years before we did - tens and tens of couples; we both had big friendship groups.

Mostly all from being in dual income households and decent-high paying jobs. A few had help from parents with deposits, but not all; a few did it entirely by themselves. Only one had all the money for a house given to them (his Dad is a millionaire) so no mortgage. One did shared ownership for a flat, another two or three did Help to Buy. The rest bought cheap(er) flats and houses in cheap(er) parts of the city a decade+ ago; all have now traded up.

It is still doable, but obviously far easier if you have very high salaries and/or family help. I appreciate our friend’s situation is unusual.

Almost everyone we know own their homes, we are quite central (zone 2) and in a higher earning bracket, and most of our friends are too (law, finance, entertainment, tech). All of them living in zone 1 or 2, some in prime central (SJW, PH). We know them through school (private), kids clubs or our gym/hobbies (high fees) so they're in a similar position to us.

In my wide circle of colleagues and friends who are 30-40ish, discounting those who have inherited, been gifted money from family or have married wealth: about 25% - maybe less. IME it's rare to own around London in that age bracket without help. More do seem to own in the next decade up though, even without help.

I'm 62. All my friends bought in their 20s. Most with own saving for deposit and mortgage, sometimes with friends, about 25% with some help from parents.
Then when I was in my 40s, none of my colleagues below 30 owned. When they did buy it was with a partner or part ownership.
I know a few women who have divorced but still live with their ex as they can't afford separate households, and some who feel trapped in their marriage for same reason (even if still working can't get a decent mortgage in their 60s).
My stepsons are in their 30s. One bought with partner but couldn't afford London (so is in Essex). Other bought with in law's considerable assistance.

I think 'London' is so broad it is fairly meaningless, though. There are so many factors, including transport links, schools, levels of violence. A lot more people could buy if they didn't care about any of those things. But of course we are all balancing affordability and quality of life. There's no.point in owning if you are terrified to go out.

Most people know people similar to them, so if they own, they know people know own.

Mumsnet is very middle class so the answers aren't necessarily representative.

I think it’s very difficult for single people on low and average incomes. But even a couple each only on national minimum wage will have a household income of nearly £50,000, and a couple earning the London average each will have a household income of over £90,000. You don’t have to be high earners to be able to afford to buy something, even if it’s not a big family home.

I'd say 60% rent, all privately, none in social housing.

95% of the people I know are in social housing. Zone 1.

All of them. 50s/60s, bought from our incomes 15-20 years ago. We're very lucky.

I work with a group of people who all live in tower Hamlets. None of them own except 1. They are all in council housing. And all a decade older than the 40 age group

We're in zone 6, and my local friends are fellow dog walkers, quite a broad range (electrician, solicitor, retired long distance lorry driver, I am in admin) and everyone owns, except a couple of (older) people with a HA tenancy. But that's maybe because it's difficult to own pets in private rentals, so it is a self-selecting sample.

It's a fairly cheap area by London standards, quite a long way out, but not leafy commuter-ville.

I think lots of people by that age have managed to buy something, even if not their ideal home. Of course there are also people relying on food banks to feed themselves, who just don't have that choice, and that's an ever increasing group. But most people I know have been able to buy.

Everyone's experience will be anecdotal, I don't know what the statistics show.

Most people I know that age have a mortgage. Me and dh are 40. We own in zone 4. But it's a roughish part of London and transport connections aren't great

About 90% - but virtually all of our friends are childfree and have careers rather than jobs, which obviously means a lot of more money to save for deposits and greater affordability for mortgages. Around 10% are renters but mostly in house shares and more as part of an artsy, creative, lifestyle with other creative types. Off the top of my head I can only think of two people who rent a whole place to themselves.

I’m 49 and own in zone 3 with under £100k left on the mortgage. Bought my first flat in a very rough part of SE London at 21, for £42,000 and traded up from there. Probably about 90% of the people I know are in similar circumstances. My kids will never be able to buy in London.

I'm late 30s and don't know anyone that rents. Only one person had help from parents. Most bought as a couple though which makes a huge difference. I will say though that a few of us feel unable to take the next step up to a larger home without moving away from London. 4+ bed homes rarely come up around our way so when they do they are ridiculous prices.

I'm surprised at how many people know people who own outright with no mortgage tbh!

Nearly everyone I know mid 40s in SE has a mortgage. One or two own after inheriting a house or enough to pay off their mortgage outright.

I got on the ladder with a new build in zone 2 at age 30 when I was single. I loved it. It was shared ownership. Nearly everyone I know including me started with a flat share before buying.

I know a lot of people generations of council and social housing renters Londoners. My circle is working class but someone who is a dentist married to a dentist with rich parents both is mostly going to befriend other middleclass rich people.

The ones who are married own. Those who aren't and don't have parents of the income bracket that provided for a large house and several children at private school, rent. Most of the ones who are married also had sizeable help from parents and extremely secure jobs.

Everyone I know owns, but all ~/> 40