Young people on housing

The average age when young people move from the parental home is relatively low in Sweden, around 20–21 years. Young women move earlier than young men. That is shown in the Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs' study Young People with Attitude from 2007.

The Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs undertakes regular attitude and value surveys. Both young and older people reply to questions on attitudes to becoming an adult, leisure, work, politics, diversity issues, gender equality, health etc. The 2007 study Young People with Attitude focused on 6 000 persons in the age-range of 16–29 years and 1 500 in the age-range of 35–74 years.

The average age when young people move from the parental home is relatively low in Sweden, around 20–21 years. Young women move earlier than young men.

But over the last ten years the difference has decreased between young women and young men. The average age has also risen slightly. On the one hand, because young people study for longer at present and those who study frequently remain living with their parents and, on the other hand, because there is a shortage of smaller and cheaper housing - primarily in the larger cities.

Young people in the age group 19–30 years move, on average, five times across the municipal border and mainly in connection with studies or change of work. Every third young person, 36 per cent, envisages moving from their place of residence within the next few years while 39 per cent believe they will remain.

Influence over one's housing situation
The youngest, those who live with their parents, agree least that they have influence over their housing situation, 33 per cent, and then the influence increases gradually in the different age groups to 81 per cent in the age group 55–74 years. Also amongst young people who are unemployed or are students, a low proportion perceives they have influence over their housing situation, 41–42 per cent.

The share who are satisfied with their housing declines between the age group 16–19 years, when young people live with their parents and 70 per cent are satisfied, and 20–24 year-olds, when young people initiate the process of getting established in the housing market and 56 per cent are satisfied. Then the share that agrees with the above increases gradually with the age groups and amongst the oldest, namely 55–74 years, is also to be found the largest proportion of satisfied respondents, 90 per cent.