New research suggests a large share of Scots who do not currently own property have given up on the idea altogether. A specialist lending study found that 47% of adults in Scotland without a home believe they will never buy one. The figure rises to 55% among people who are self-employed or earn a variable income.
The findings point to affordability as the central barrier. More than half of respondents, 57%, said house prices were climbing too quickly for them to keep pace. Around 39% named the wider cost of living as an obstacle, while 30% pointed to rising household bills. A quarter of those questioned, 25%, said they did not feel financially ready to take on a mortgage, and 19% estimated they would need five years or more before reaching that point.
Intentions to buy remain limited. Just 7% said they planned to purchase a home within the next year, a share that climbed to 11% among the self-employed. Another 11% said they would like to buy but considered it impossible, rising to 15% among those with a history of credit problems.
Credit history emerged as a recurring worry. Among people who had experienced credit difficulties, 42% said they were concerned about being approved for a mortgage, and the same proportion found the application process itself daunting. Interest in professional guidance was higher within this group. While 31% of respondents overall said they would consider using a mortgage broker, that rose to 41% among borrowers with adverse credit, and to 61% among those in that category aiming to buy within 18 months.
The research was published as the lender behind it prepared to introduce first charge mortgages in Scotland. Paul Adams, director of sales at the company, said borrowers who are self-employed, earn irregular incomes or have faced credit setbacks can feel shut out of the market. He added that this should not be the case, pointing to a gap between the products on offer and the circumstances of many would-be buyers.
The study frames homeownership in Scotland as increasingly tied to income stability and credit standing rather than earnings alone. For many of those surveyed, the obstacle was less about a single deposit hurdle and more about a sense that the market had moved beyond their reach.
