Studying for a masters degree in environmental science, Zach was inspired by the ambition of a better job, but renting on his own was “out of the question, unless you want to live in a shoe box”, and buying still feels out of reach.

“It’s getting harder to save. It feels like there is no hope getting on the housing ladder in London,” he said.

Danny McGuire, 33, lives with his parents in Warrington, Cheshire.

He previously lived away, including some time living abroad, but moved back into the family home during the pandemic.

“It’s quite a normal situation really,” he told 5 Live Breakfast.

Danny, who works for a local council, said he wanted to live independently but had found himself with an “ever-dwindling” amount of leftover money each month to save for a house. Prices were rising and saving enough for a deposit on his own was difficult, he said.

“Eventually you’ve got to make a real hard decision of, actually, do I save for longer or do I bite the bullet, move back home and try and save more money consistently?” he said.

Some of his friends had been given money by their parents towards a deposit but Danny said his family was unable to help him financially – instead offering a place to stay so he could save up.

He pays his parents for rent and groceries but is able to save “significant chunks of money each month”, and hopes to buy his own house this year.