Call for brokers to offer more flexible services after lender reports sharp rise in mortgage applications from solo female buyers
A surge in solo homeownership is reshaping the UK mortgage landscape, with women leading the charge and demanding new solutions from brokers and lenders.
Data from Skipton Building Society reveals it processed 11.5 per cent more mortgage applications from solo female buyers than male ones, and so far in 2025, nearly seven per cent more individual applications from women than men. Brokers are, therefore, being called upon to respond with sharper, more flexible advice and products.
The numbers point to a market in transition. A recent study of 1,000 women who do not currently own a home found that 37 per cent intend to purchase solo, outpacing the 35 per cent who plan to buy with a partner. Mortgage data consistently shows women are more likely to buy alone than men, and this trend is accelerating. Among aspiring solo buyers, half cite the desire for independence as their primary motivation, while 41 per cent want full control over where they choose to live. Another 36 per cent see homeownership alone as an investment in their future.
Yet, the path to solo ownership is riddled with obstacles that brokers must help clients navigate. Saving for a deposit on a single income stands out as the biggest challenge for 38 per cent of women. The struggle is compounded by the reality that, on average, women saving for a home have £9,420 set aside for a deposit but believe they will need approximately £27,414 to buy a home. The expectation is that it will take another five years before they can get on the property ladder.
“While solo buyers are incredibly motivated, they face a disproportionate number of barriers. The challenges are significant and too often overlooked,” Jen Lloyd, head of mortgage products and proposition at Skipton Building Society, said.
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Financial strain doesn’t end with the deposit. Another 37 per cent are concerned about covering the cost of legal fees and surveys without financial support from a partner, while 36 per cent struggle to find a suitable property within their budget and preferred location. A third worry about whether they’ll be approved for a mortgage without a second income.
“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,” Lloyd said.
The study, commissioned by Skipton Building Society to promote its Track Record Mortgage, highlights the need for innovation in mortgage products and advice. The Track Record Mortgage evaluates an applicant’s rental payment history to determine affordability, eliminating the need for a deposit. “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,” Lloyd said.
Four in 10 women want to feel financially secure in their own right, while 29 per cent do not want to rely on a partner to progress in life, according to the study. For 89 per cent of those surveyed, achieving homeownership independently is important. However, 82 per cent of women who don’t yet own property acknowledge there are risks associated with buying solo. More than half worry about the financial strain if their income were to change unexpectedly, and 46 per cent are concerned about being solely responsible for unforeseen repair costs.
Aneisha Beveridge, head of research at Hamptons, part of the Skipton Group, said: "The rise in solo homeownership is closely tied to shifting life milestones. With more people going to university, many are renting for longer and delaying homeownership until they’re settled in a stable job and location. At the same time, marriage and parenthood are happening later in life, meaning more people are buying homes alone rather than as couples."
READ MORE: Skipton Building Society research highlights the concerns of first-time-buyers
