Over the past year, I’ve had more conversations than ever with women buying their first home on their own. And it can’t just be me as the numbers back it up.
Skipton Building Society’s latest research points to a clear trend of more women choosing to buy solo and it’s changing the shape of the UK housing market.
According to Skipton’s survey of 1,000 aspiring female first-time buyers nearly four out of 10 (37%) plan to buy on their own. That’s slightly more than the 35% who say they’ll buy with a partner.
It might seem like a small gap, but when you factor in their mortgage data – which shows a sustained lead in solo female applicants over men – it’s clear that this is more than a blip.
In 2024, Skipton received 11.5% more applications from solo female buyers than solo male buyers. In 2025 so far, that lead has narrowed slightly, but women are still ahead by almost 7%.
CHOICE NOT COMPROMISE
Independence is the biggest motivator driving this shift with half of the women planning to buy alone say they want the freedom and security of owning without depending on anyone else. Another 41% say they want complete control over where they live and 36% view it as a smart long-term investment.
Too often, solo buyers are framed as people who have to buy alone but what this data shows is a cohort of financially engaged, independent-minded women who are choosing to get on the ladder solo. They’re not waiting around for the right time, the right partner, or the perfect conditions. They’re just getting on with it.
BUYING ALONE
But of course, choosing to go it alone doesn’t mean it’s easy whether your female or male.
Many of the barriers facing solo buyers are structural with the most common challenge still being saving for a deposit (38%) on a single income. That’s followed closely by legal and survey costs (37%), finding a suitable property within budget (36%) and securing a mortgage without the boost of a second income (34%).
Right now, the average solo buyer has managed to save £9,420 but they estimate they’ll need around £27,414 to actually get on the ladder.
That gap explains why many expect it will take another five years before they’re in a position to buy even if they’re otherwise ready.
RENTAL HISTORY
It’s here that products like Skipton’s Track Record Mortgage could start to play a bigger role. The mortgage was launched last year to help renters with a strong history of paying rent but who’ve struggled to save for a deposit.
Instead of the traditional deposit requirement, it uses rental payment history as a measure of affordability.
Rates on the product were recently reduced to their lowest ever: 5.09% for the standard version and 5.24% for a version with £1,000 cashback.
And according to Skipton, more women than men have used the product since launch which is another sign of how women are proactively navigating around the system rather than waiting for it to accommodate them.
As Jen Lloyd, Head of Mortgage Products and Proposition at Skipton, explains: “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.”
NOT JUST ABOUT AFFORDABILITY
And it’s not just about affordability. This group is also highly aware of the risks with Skipton’s research finding that 82% of aspiring solo buyers are conscious of the potential downsides.
Over half (53%) worry about the impact of a sudden drop in income and 46% are concerned about covering unexpected repairs on their own.
Meanwhile two in five say they want to achieve financial security in their own right and nearly a third (29%) say they don’t want to rely on a partner to progress in life.
BETTER SUPPORT
There’s also a call for better support with around 65% of respondents saying that more should be done to encourage and enable solo buyers.
Nearly six in ten (59%) want greater awareness of existing schemes and 58% would like to see more mortgage products tailored to single applicants.
Aneisha Beveridge, head of research at estate agency Hamptons, which is part of the Skipton Group, sums up the situation.
“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.”
CHANGING TIMES
This isn’t just a lifestyle story but a market shift and one that needs to be met with better products, more inclusive criteria and a more understanding of today’s buyer journeys.
Those looking to buy a home need solutions that reflect how they actually live and not just being told which box they should fit into.
But whether you’re buying on your own or with a partner remember, smart choices start with expert advice – always speak to your mortgage adviser to get the best for your financial future.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage the information contained within was correct at the time of publication but is subject to change.
UK Property and Finance Expert
