Homeownership Statistics UK, and Inheritance

Most UK households own the home they live in, but the share has edged down over the last decade and the owners themselves are getting older. In the 2021 Census, 62.5% of households in England and Wales owned their accommodation, some 15.5 million homes (ONS, Census 2021).

This page pulls together the headline homeownership statistics for the UK from official sources, shows how the numbers have moved, and looks at the point where housing data meets estate planning: a large and ageing group of owners, many holding most of their wealth in property. Housing figures below are for England (English Housing Survey) or England and Wales (Census) as noted; Scotland and Northern Ireland publish their own data. Tax figures are as at July 2026 and subject to change.

Key homeownership figures at a glance

Owner occupation is the largest tenure in England, at 65% of households in 2024-25, split between 36% who own outright and 29% still buying with a mortgage (English Housing Survey 2024-25, gov.uk, reference period 2024-25). The table below sets each headline statistic beside its source and period.

Statistic	Figure	Source & period
Owner occupation (all owners), England	65% (16.2m households)	EHS, gov.uk, 2024-25
Owned outright, England	36% of households	EHS, gov.uk, 2024-25
Buying with a mortgage, England	29% of households	EHS, gov.uk, 2024-25
Owned home, England & Wales	62.5% (15.5m households)	ONS Census, 2021
Owned outright, England & Wales	32.8% (8.1m households)	ONS Census, 2021
Outright-owner households headed by someone aged 65+	62%	EHS, gov.uk, 2024-25
People aged 65+ who are owner occupiers, England	79%	EHS, gov.uk, 2024-25

All figures as published by the named sources; percentages are rounded by the original publishers. England figures are from the English Housing Survey; England and Wales figures are from the 2021 Census.

Tenure (England & Wales)	2011	2021
Owned (all)	64.3%	62.5%
Owned outright	30.8%	32.8%
Owned with mortgage or shared ownership	33.5%	29.7%

Homeowners are concentrated among older households

Ownership skews older. In England in 2024-25, 79% of people aged 65 or over were owner occupiers, and 62% of all outright-owner households were headed by someone aged 65 or over (English Housing Survey 2024-25, gov.uk, reference period 2024-25). A large, ageing group of mortgage-free owners is the group whose homes most often pass on death.

Why this matters for estates. When most owners aged 65 and over hold their home outright, the family home is frequently the single largest asset in an estate. HMRC statistics show that around two-fifths of the value of taxpaying estates left by those who died under 65 was made up by their main UK residence (HMRC, Inheritance Tax liabilities statistics commentary, tax year 2022 to 2023). Property values and estate values move over time, so this is context, not a forecast for any one estate.

The homeownership numbers describe a country where property is widely held, held later in life, and increasingly held outright. That combination is what makes housing a recurring theme in inheritance.

Analysis

What the numbers mean

Taken together, the data points one way: homeownership is still the norm, at 65% of households in England in 2024-25, but the owner base is ageing and more of it is mortgage-free (EHS 2024-25, gov.uk). In our reading, that shifts where family wealth sits and when it moves.

A few observations, offered as general commentary rather than advice:

Property dominates many estates. With ownership concentrated among older households, the home is often the largest asset when an estate is valued. That can matter because inheritance tax is charged on the value of an estate above the available tax-free thresholds (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change).
Frozen thresholds meet rising values. The main inheritance tax thresholds are held at their current levels until the end of the 2030-31 tax year (5 April 2031) (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). Where property values rise while thresholds stay flat, more estates can be drawn in over time, though this depends on individual circumstances.
Outright ownership changes the picture. A home held without a mortgage adds its full value to an estate, which is one reason many people choose to review how the home is owned and who it passes to.

None of this points to a single course of action, and the figures can change. Many people find it worth discussing their own position with a qualified professional who can look at the whole estate. Our estate planning guide sets out how the parts fit together.

Homeownership and inheritance tax

Widespread ownership does not mean widespread inheritance tax. In the tax year 2022 to 2023 there were 31,500 taxpaying inheritance tax estates, about 4.62% of UK deaths (HMRC, Inheritance Tax liabilities statistics commentary, tax year 2022 to 2023). Most estates pay no inheritance tax, because of the tax-free thresholds that apply.

How the thresholds work in outline, for England and Wales (the position is broadly UK-wide for inheritance tax, though succession law differs by nation):

Allowance or rate	Level (July 2026)
Nil-rate band (per person)	£325,000
Residence nil-rate band (per person)	Up to £175,000
Combined per person (home to descendants)	Up to £500,000
Combined per couple	Up to £1,000,000
Standard rate	40%
Reduced rate (10%+ of net estate to charity)	36%

Source: gov.uk/inheritance-tax, as at July 2026, subject to change. Thresholds are frozen until the end of the 2030-31 tax year (5 April 2031) (gov.uk).

The residence nil-rate band is the part most tied to homeownership: it can add up to £175,000 per person where a home passes to direct descendants, and it tapers away for larger estates (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). Because the rules and property values both change, the interaction can be involved, and it is one option some consider discussing with a qualified professional. Our guides on Inheritance Tax Explained and the residence nil-rate band go into more detail.

Homeownership data across the UK nations

The headline figures on this page are for England (English Housing Survey) or England and Wales (2021 Census). Scotland and Northern Ireland collect and publish their own housing statistics, and ownership rates and tenure patterns differ between the nations. Inheritance tax applies across the UK on broadly the same basis, but succession law differs: Scotland has its own rules, including legal rights for a spouse and children, and uses confirmation rather than a grant of probate. Where an estate crosses jurisdictions, it can be worth taking advice in each.

Sources and methodology

Every statistic on this page comes from a named official source and has been checked against the current publication. Housing tenure figures are drawn from two bodies: the English Housing Survey (England) and the ONS 2021 Census (England and Wales). Inheritance tax figures come from HMRC and gov.uk.

English Housing Survey 2024-25, headline findings, Chapter 1 (reference period 2024-25): tenure shares, outright and mortgaged ownership, age profile of owners. gov.uk
ONS, Housing, England and Wales, Census 2021 (2021, compared with 2011): ownership totals, outright versus mortgaged, ten-year trend. ons.gov.uk
HMRC, Inheritance Tax liabilities statistics: commentary (tax year 2022 to 2023): number of taxpaying estates, share of deaths, share of estate value in the main residence. gov.uk
HMRC / gov.uk, How Inheritance Tax works (as at July 2026, subject to change): nil-rate band, residence nil-rate band, rates and the freeze to 2030-31. gov.uk/inheritance-tax

Figures are quoted as published, including the publishers' own rounding. Statistics are not extrapolated beyond what each source states. Housing surveys and tax rules are updated periodically, so it can be worth checking the latest release before relying on a figure.

Frequently asked questions

How many people in the UK own their own home?

Most households do. In the 2021 Census, 62.5% of households in England and Wales owned their accommodation, around 15.5 million homes (ONS, Census 2021). The English Housing Survey put owner occupation in England at 65% of households in 2024-25 (gov.uk). Scotland and Northern Ireland publish separate figures.

Is homeownership in the UK rising or falling?

It has edged down over the last decade. The share of households owning their home in England and Wales fell from 64.3% in 2011 to 62.5% in 2021, while renting rose (ONS, Census 2021). Within that total, outright ownership rose and mortgaged ownership fell, so the mix has shifted even as the headline rate slipped.

What share of homeowners own outright?

A growing share. In England and Wales, 32.8% of households owned outright in 2021, up from 30.8% in 2011 (ONS, Census 2021). In England, the English Housing Survey recorded 36% of households owning outright in 2024-25, more than the 29% still buying with a mortgage (gov.uk).

Why are more homeowners becoming liable for inheritance tax?

Two things can combine: property values that rise over time and inheritance tax thresholds that are frozen until the end of the 2030-31 tax year (5 April 2031) (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). Where estate values grow while thresholds stay flat, more estates can be drawn in, though whether any estate pays depends on its circumstances.

Does owning my home mean my family will pay inheritance tax?

Not usually. Most estates pay no inheritance tax, and each person has a nil-rate band of £325,000, plus a residence nil-rate band of up to £175,000 where a home passes to descendants, so a couple may pass on up to £1,000,000 in some cases (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). Whether tax is due depends on the whole estate, so many people discuss it with a qualified professional.

Are UK homeownership statistics the same across all four nations?

No. The figures here cover England (English Housing Survey) or England and Wales (2021 Census). Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own housing surveys and censuses, and ownership rates differ between the nations. Inheritance tax applies UK-wide on broadly the same basis, but succession law differs, so it can be worth checking the position for the relevant nation.

About Fairchild Oldfield

The Fairchild Oldfield team brings together estate planning, tax, independent financial advice and client care, working with families across England and Wales.

Fairchild Oldfield are estate planning specialists and will writers, not a firm of solicitors. This article is general information based on practical experience, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Important: This article is general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Reading it does not create a professional relationship. It is based on the law of England and Wales, and other UK jurisdictions may differ. Statistics are quoted from the named official sources for the reference periods shown, and figures and tax rules are current as at July 2026 and are subject to change. Before acting, many people choose to seek advice from a suitably qualified professional, such as a solicitor, a STEP practitioner, an accountant, or an FCA-authorised financial adviser, who can consider your individual circumstances.

Homeownership Statistics in the UK, and What They Mean for Inheritance