Parents see 25 as the age of independence

Most parents want their children to leave the family home permanently between the ages of 19 and 25, research published today shows.

Most parents want their children to leave the family home permanently between the ages of 19 and 25, research published today shows.

A nationwide survey of 1,200 adults revealed that 84 per cent of them thought their children should set up a home of their own by the time they were 25. But rising student debts and a love of home comforts means the reverse is true – with more young people "boomeranging" back to the family home after university.

The survey of adults who were either expecting children this year or had children under the age of five was commissioned by Vauxhall Motors. It showed that – while more than four out of five said they wanted their children to leave by the age of 25 – they acknowledged that they might not be able to buy their first home without help. It follows another survey which showed that one in four people who leave home return at least once to live with their parents in later life.The Vauxhall survey also found 34 per cent of parents were worried about drugs, 26 per cent by rising crime, 17 per cent by the cost of living and 12 per cent by poor education.