While flat sharing can be more affordable than renting, OneFamily reveals that saving money is the main reason people like living with flat mates, 36% say it’s cheaper than living alone.

In a survey of 3,000 UK adults aged 18 to 40, four in five have lived with housemates, and a third say they didn’t enjoy the experience.

It found that top frustrations included lack of privacy (37%), noise (32%) and messy housemates (29%).

With the average cost of rent in the UK now at £1,354 a month, according to recent ONS data, many young adults are staying in shared accommodation far longer than they intended.

OneFamily chief executive Jim Islam says: “We’re seeing a generation stuck in shared homes they’ve long outgrown, not out of choice, but because high rents make it nearly impossible to move on.”

“Everyone deserves independence and peace of mind, but for many young people these things now feel like luxuries.”

“Owning your own place used to be a milestone of adulthood. Today, it’s increasingly out of reach for those trying to balance everyday rent with saving for a deposit.”