The broker firm discovered that 61 per cent of FTBs in the past five years were helped by capital from parents or grandparents, against about 20 per cent in the years before 1989.
The proportion of FTBs helped by family members rose to 31 per cent during the nine years from 1989 to 1998 and went up again to 54 per cent in the nine years 1999 to 2008.
This figure rose still further, to 67 per cent during the four years 2009 to 2013, before easing slightly.
It also investigated the current proportions of FTBs helped by parents or grandparents by region. Perhaps unsurprisingly London topped the list, at 56 per cent, followed by the North East at 45 per cent and Yorkshire & the Humber at 43 per cent.
At the other end of the scale, FTBs in Northern Ireland were helped the least, at 24 per cent, with East of England at 32 per cent and East Midlands third lowest at 33 per cent.
“The number of first-time buyers needing help from family to climb onto the property ladder has tripled,” said Stephen Lowe, communications director at Just Group.
“Owning your own home remains a deeply held ideal in our national psyche and today’s younger generation can see the financial and emotional benefits of getting on the property ladder.
“But it seems that for many, unless they can count on financial help from family, the reality is slipping further out of reach,” Lowe added.
The research formed part of a survey commissioned by Just Group to understand financial and property concerns among 4,000 UK adults, between 17 and 24 January 2019.
