The Struggle for Young Buyers in Twickenham and Teddington

In fact, the picture is tough, and one that is replicated not just across London, but across the country at large. A BBC news piece this week, backed up by research from Skipton Building Society, has revealed that more people in their 20s, 30s, and even 40s find themselves today either unable to leave home, or are finding themselves back under their parents’ roof having left once, but struggling to keep up with the cost of living. 

It's a real problem that needs to be properly addressed, because whilst we all love to sell our properties for the maximum possible, we also want homes for all, and especially don’t want to see local people priced out of the market. I speak as someone born and brought up on these very streets myself, so I really do know.

The cost of independence is stacking up, and for many, it can feel like the maths simply doesn’t add up here in Twickenham.

The Twickenham Reality Check

Let’s start by looking at some facts and figures, because around here, the numbers matter (and you know we love digging into those, here at Bartlett & Partners).

Property Prices in Twickenham

Over the past year, the average property in Twickenham has sold for about £744,485 – that’s according to property portal Rightmove.

But then we can explore that further and how this changes once we dig a little into different property types:
  • Flats: ~£495,860
  • Terraced Homes: ~£801,149
  • Semi-Detached Homes: often in excess of the £1,000,000 territory

As for Detached properties, this really does start to vary, but we often sell these for between £1,500,000 and £3,000,000 or even above that within the area, although data from Zoopla shows an average for detached homes in Twickenham to be £1,286,786. 

Either way, it still looks like serious sums for family homes in our patch. 

Deposits, Average Income, and the Difficulty Saving Whilst Renting

Even for those earning well, saving a 5–10% deposit alongside rent, bills, and day-to-day life can feel pretty brutal. A decent 1-bed flat within walking distance of the central shops and restaurants, or within easy reach of a rail link, will set a tenant back handsomely — often leaving little to save, especially once normal household bills and council tax are added on top.

Then there are those little “extras” that the younger generation knows only too well, rightly or wrongly – things that older generations didn’t ever have to think about: streaming, phone contracts, commuting, even co-working budgets – and we shouldn’t deprive young people a social life either! It’s important, but obviously nowadays so much more expensive to grab a drink or, heaven forbid, a meal out. All these eat into what might otherwise be savings for a deposit.

A recent study by the Skipton Group found that 9 out of 10 young adults living with their parents would see nearly half their monthly income taken up by the basics (rent, utilities, council tax) if they weren’t living at home, usually on a subsidised rent (or none at all). And that’s before we even touch those extras I mentioned – the Netflix membership, gym, or that cooling drink at the riverside pub.

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The “Boomerang” Effect

We’re experiencing a different type of phenomenon, now – not just here in Twickenham and Teddington, but again more widely. That is the so called ‘boomerang’ effect. This is where people do leave home, set up a home of their own, either renting or owning, only to find that the financial pressure is too steep (often, sadly, if a separation is involved). 

We are seeing more and more young adults – although many in their later thirties, forties or even beyond – finding themselves living back in the family home. 

Across the UK, nearly 7 million adults under 35 live with a parent, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Specifically, looking at other data from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, we know that the proportion of 25- to 34-year-olds living with parents has climbed from around 13% in 2006 to  more like 18% today. In high-value areas like Twickenham and other affluent London suburbs, this trend is even more acute. 

The Twickenham and Teddington Effect

The reality is, Twickenham and Teddington are desirable places to live, for many good reasons, and that is why people do clamour to buy properties here, and why of course that puts upward pressure on property values which can in turn mean that locals feel priced out of the market.

• River access, great schools, suburban charm with city connectivity; people compete to live here.
• Property prices get pushed upward, even for modest homes.
• There’s limited new supply, particularly in conservation zones or along riverside stretches. We simply can’t build many more homes here to satisfy the demand, and so competition stays fierce.
• Younger buyers unfortunately do sometimes get edged out by families or downsizers with more capital, putting further pressure on the “starter” homes marketplace.

The Emotional & Social Angle for Young Would-Be Buyers

When young adults feel stuck in their childhood home, they don’t just lose a bit of autonomy. Living at home longer means:

• Delayed life milestones: it is harder to find a partner, settle down, have children, and just find that stability most of us grow up expecting to find.
• Relationship friction in families (even with the best of parents)
• Feeling like life is on hold, especially when watching peers move ahead
• The awkwardness of wanting privacy and independence, but feeling like you lack the means of achieving it.

It’s not a moral failure of course. It is the system, and rightly, we should (and do) call it out.

What Can Be Done (and how Bartlett & Partners are Here to Help)

There is not a silver bullet. But there are a few tips I can offer that might help you think how to approach it.

1. Smart, realistic planning
   Model your “affordability boundary” — what you can safely stretch to, not just the theoretical maximum. It is useful to have this conversation with a qualified mortgage broker, and then we can look around to see what works and what doesn’t.
2. Off-market & early leads
   Many properties in Twickenham sell before they ever hit Rightmove. We tap into buyer networks, social-media first launches ahead of launching on the big portals, and of course even off-market discreet matches – so some deals are done before the press of competition. If you are on our radar, that can happen for you, too.
3. Save smart and early: I write this knowing that it might sound condescending from an old hat like me, but even small contributions compound over time. And there is more than one way to save. Consider salary-sacrifice schemes, tax-efficient ISAs, and of course the obvious: cutting non-essentials!
4. Use higher LTV mortgage schemes: There are lenders offering 95% loans if you have a 5% deposit – although they tend to have a higher interest rate than you’ll find with a deposit of 10% or better. Also, since July 2025 the government has extended their Mortgage Guarantee Scheme to encourage lenders to offer 91–95% mortgages, making access to that sort of lending easier to find (subject to income, credit and lender checks). See more information on that on this link here, but make sure to discuss with a qualified advisor (please do ask us to recommend someone local, we will be more than happy to).
5. Shared ownership or equity schemes
   Look for Housing Association schemes or resales of properties that were part of previous schemes, where you may be able to purchase a portion of the property in shared ownership with an Association or even the Local Authority, renting the remaining share. You are often able to ‘staircase’ later, i.e. purchase a greater share (better capital growth long term) and pay less rent.
6. Don’t rule out flats
   Leasehold properties have had a bad rap recently, and not always unfairly; however, they can be a good first step on the ladder. It is right to be cautious about things like lease length, service charges and ground rent costs and whether there is any pending ground rent review period; however, these things are all required by law to be displayed on the advertising – so you can go into a leasehold purchase with your eyes open, and a good lawyer will help you navigate the purchase and advise you properly about any potential pitfalls.
7. Know your local market

We know it’s tough – we live and breathe this marketplace every day. But even in this local market, we spot interesting little pockets that might just be perfect for younger buyers finding it tricky to get on the ladder locally.

Look at The Counties area here in Twickenham, for example, a lovely area for great three bedroom 1930s homes that can sometimes be just a little more attainable for first time buyers, without compromising on location – which here still offers great links, school catchments and access to amenities and local facilities

Final Word 

Twickenham and Teddington aren’t broken marketplaces. They are, however, often competitive, and for young locals wanting to press “go” on their own place, it definitely can feel like an uphill struggle. 

Nevertheless, there are ways and means to work your way onto the ladder locally – even if it might mean looking slightly further afield for that first purchase; it is amazing what difference just a few miles along the trainline can make to property prices.

By combining disciplined saving, smart mortgage strategies, perhaps registering with housing associations, and of course undertaking realistic property targeting, a determined buyer can make this work – even in a competitive market like Twickenham.