Seven million 'doomerangers' move back with parents following a break up

Over seven million (7.2 million) UK adults have been forced to move back in with their parents following a break up, divorce or separation reveals new research from Churchill Home Insurance. These ‘doomerangers’ make up 14 per cent of the adult population, as rising rent and mortgage costs mean many adults cannot afford to pay for separate accommodation as a single person following a break up.

Financial reasons are listed as the main cause of needing to move back home with parents (55 per cent), but people are also returning home for parental emotional support (37 per cent) and help with childcare (13 per cent). A quarter (25 per cent) of those who have moved back with their parents did so following a bad break up, needing distance or independence from their ex-partner.

Martin Scott, head of Churchill Home Insurance, said: “A separation or divorce is an emotionally traumatic experience and sometimes parents are exactly what we need to help us get through these difficult periods in our lives. The additional financial strain of having to keep separate properties often means it’s easier to move in with family, rather than try and find somewhere else to live.”

Men (16 per cent) are more likely to move back in with their parents than women (12 per cent). The main reason men move back in with their parents is for financial reasons (59 per cent) whereas women view it more as a temporary measure while searching for alternative accommodation (54 per cent).

The financial reasons for people ‘doomeranging’ back to their parents vary, from the cost of rents elsewhere (30 per cent) or the need to reduce cost of living (29 per cent) to having to pay off debts (25 per cent).

Financial reasons for moving back in with parents

1 Rents elsewhere were too high (30 per cent)

2 I needed to reduce my cost of living e.g. spend on food and bills (29 per cent)

3 I wanted to save up to buy my own place (28 per cent)

4 I had debts I needed to pay off (excluding mortgage) (25 per cent)

5 I was unemployed / previously relied on my partner for money (24 per cent)

6 Money tied up in mortgage / rent of existing property (18 per cent)

Source: Churchill Insurance 2016

People tend to spend an average of six months living with their parents after breaking up with a partner. This is highest among men (six months versus five months for women) and those aged 18-34 (7.5 months). Unsurprisingly, the majority of adults (68 per cent) bring all their belongings to their parents’ house with them following a break up.

Martin Scott continued: “Anyone moving back in with their parents should ensure their parents’ home insurance policy is sufficient to cover their additional belongings, as well as anything belonging to visiting children, or items in a storage unit. If you don’t check with your insurance provider, you may find that you’re underinsured or even not insured at all.”