According to data from Santander, 22% of first-time buyers in 2025 were aged 40 and over, up from 18% last year.
The bank said the average age of first-time buyers has been getting closer to 40 in recent years, and there was also a notable increase in people over 60 getting onto the property ladder for the first time.
The share of first-time buyers aged 60 and over was up 14% year-on-year. The oldest first-time buyer seen by Santander was 70 years old, compared to 67 in 2024.
Santander said although there had been changes in lending policy and regulation to help younger people get onto the property ladder, the proportion of buyers aged 25 and younger had declined sharply in the last year, down by 23% on last year.
Still, the youngest first-time buyer of 2025 was 18.
Renters’ Rights Act: what landlords may be getting wrong
Sponsored by BM Solutions
David Morris, head of homes at Santander, said: “Our recent data shows that it is never too late to realise your homeownership dream. This year has very much been the year of the buyer, with regulatory changes giving buyers renewed confidence that owning a home is within reach. Whether buying with family gifts, relying on inherited wealth or simply saving across decades to secure a deposit, we’re pleased to have helped so many first-time buyers across the generations.
“But there is still more that can be done, and our data also highlights a growing disparity for first-time homeownership, with the gap widening between younger and older generations as the market grapples with the impact of stamp duty changes and a lack of supply.”
