More than half of aspiring homeowners doubt their ability to get on the housing ladder, a new study has found.
The latest annual survey by the Homeowners Alliance (HOA) reveals that the proportion of non-homeowners who aspire to get on the housing ladder has risen from 64% in 2025 to 73% this year.
However, it found that among those aspiring homebuyers, 52% doubt they will ever achieve their goal.
The findings suggest that mistrust is exacerbated by widespread misunderstanding about mortgages.
The HOA says many aspiring homeowners may rule themselves out before exploring their options.
It found that 62% believe they need a deposit of at least 10%, despite the availability of low-deposit mortgages.
Likewise, 49% believe borrowing is always limited to four or five times their income, although some lenders are now offering higher income multiples to eligible borrowers.
Almost half (47%) believe the lowest interest rate automatically means the cheapest mortgage overall, ignoring fees and total borrowing costs, while 40% assume their current bank will offer the best mortgage deal.
A quarter believe they cannot explore mortgage options until they find a property.
The research also highlights the barriers preventing current homeowners from moving.
Nearly three-quarters of respondents (74%) say financial factors such as mortgage rates, deposits and stamp duty need to improve to make the transition easier.
Low mortgage rates would encourage 42% of homeowners to move, and this percentage rises to 50% among those with a mortgage.
More than a third (36%) say reducing stamp duty would help, while 31% point to lower deposit requirements.
However, cost is not the only drawback.
More than a third (37%) say reforms to the buying and selling process will make the move easier, while a quarter are calling for transactions to become legally binding early on to reduce failures, and one in five want a faster, more digital process.
The availability of suitable homes also limits mobility, especially among older homeowners.
Nearly a third of over-55s say more suitable housing, including cottages and other late-life homes, would make it easier to move around, compared with 27% of homeowners overall.
Paula Higgins, chief executive of the Homeowners Alliance, said: “It is deeply worrying that more than half of aspiring homeowners believe they will never get on the ladder.
“Some face very real barriers to affordability, but others may exclude themselves due to outdated assumptions about deposits, borrowing limits, or their eligibility for a mortgage.”
She adds that as well as tackling myths around mortgage eligibility, “government and industry must also address the high cost of moving, improve the buying and selling process, and ensure the right homes are built for people at every stage of life.”
