This study investigates the obstacles young people encounter when trying to secure stable housing.
Our 2024/25 Move On report is the second iteration of the three-year project, using the first edition as a baseline, this research continues to investigate and compare the availability and affordability of housing for young people who have experienced or faced homelessness.
To understand the state of move on for young people in 2024/25, Centrepoint commissioned WPI Economics to undertake an in-depth assessment of accessibility and affordability across social housing, private rented accommodation and temporary accommodation.
By combining robust data analysis - drawing from publicly available data, and data obtained via Freedom of Information requests - with survey findings, this research explores the barriers young people face in securing stable housing.
Key findings:
Young people and social housing
- Last year’s research (2023/24), revealed a shortfall between social housing allocations and the main duty entitlements. However, in 2024/25, this shortfall had closed, with 14% of main duties owed to young households, and over 17% of social housing allocations going to young households.
- However, young people are still struggling to access social housing. There are approximately 130,000 young households on housing registers. If social housing was allocated at its current rate, and there were no new social housing applications from young households, it would take more than six years to clear existing housing registers.
Young people in the private rented sector
- One third of young people in the private rental sector (PRS) reported discrimination by landlords or agents.
- The Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) stock has shrunk over time. In England in 2024/25, there were 458,000 Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). This is a 10% decrease in available HMO stock since 2019/20.
Young people and temporary accommodation
- This year’s research found that, in 2024/25, more young people were staying in temporary accommodation (TA) and for longer periods of time.
- It reveals that in 2024/25, there were 12,390 young households in TA, up from 11,840 young households in TA in 2023/24.
This research has been funded by Nationwide as part of their Fairer Futures strategy. Centrepoint would like to express gratitude to Nationwide for funding this research to aid understanding of how move on for young people experiencing homelessness changes.
We are grateful to WPI Economics, who were commissioned by Centrepoint to undertake the analysis that underpins this report. A full description of the methodology used can be found in the technical appendix.