More women are planning to buy a home alone rather than with a partner, signalling a shift in the way women are approaching property ownership, according to new research from Skipton Building Society.
Skipton’s latest research with 1,000 women who aspire to be first-time buyers revealed that 37% of them intend to purchase solo, compared to the 35% who plan to buy with a partner.
This growing trend is backed by Skipton’s own mortgage data which has found in 2024, the Society had 11.5% more applications from solo women buyers than men, and this trend has continued so far in 2025, with the number of women buying alone outpacing men by nearly 7%.
Among those intending to buy solo, 50% cited a desire for independence as their primary motivation. A further 41% want full control over where they live, and 36% view homeownership alone as a long-term investment in their future.
Yet despite their motivation, many solo buyers face a disproportionate number of barriers. The most common challenge is saving for a deposit on a single income, highlighted by 38% of respondents. Others reported concerns around affording legal and survey costs alone (37%), finding properties within budget in a preferred location (36%), and securing a mortgage without a second income (34%).
Those currently saving to buy solo have, on average, £9,420 set aside, but estimate they will need around £27,414 to realistically get on the property ladder. As a result, many expect it will take them another five years before they are in a position to buy.
The research found that 89% of aspiring solo buyers feel it is important to reach this milestone independently. Two in five want to achieve financial security in their own right, while 29% say they don’t want to rely on a partner to progress in life.
At the same time, 82% acknowledged the potential risks of buying alone. Over half (53%) worry about the financial impact if their income were to change unexpectedly, and 46% are concerned about being solely responsible for unexpected repair costs.
Respondents called for better support, with 65% stating that more should be done to encourage and enable solo buyers. Nearly six in ten (59%) believe greater awareness of existing schemes would help, and 58% said they would welcome mortgage products more tailored to single applicants.
Jen Lloyd, head of mortgage products and proposition at Skipton Building Society, said: “Our research shows while solo buyers are incredibly motivated, they face a disproportionate number of barriers, from saving for a deposit on one income to shouldering all the upfront costs alone.
"The challenges are significant and too often overlooked. The risks and pressures of buying alone can feel amplified, but that shouldn’t prevent people from pursuing this path. It’s clear there’s demand for more flexible, accessible products tailored to today’s buyers.
"As a building society founded on fairness, we believe in designing solutions that reflect how people actually live. That’s why we created our Track Record Mortgage, to help renters who are financially ready but locked out by traditional deposit requirements.
"We also need to do more to raise awareness of existing support, so solo buyers feel seen, supported, and confident in their homeownership journey.”
Aneisha Beveridge, head of research at Hamptons, part of the Skipton Group, added: “The rise in solo homeownership reflects broader societal shifts. As higher education, stable employment, and family formation are happening later in life, more people are choosing to buy on their own – and it’s vital the housing market adapts accordingly.”
