The high cost of housing has seen one fifth of working 20- to 34-year-olds move back in with their parents in the past year, according to Shelter.

The charity’s research also claims that 15% have never moved out of the family home.

The YouGov poll commissioned by Shelter found that 56% of those at home with mum and dad said the reason they were there was because of the high cost of housing.

More than one third said they were attempting to cut down on costs in order to save up for a deposit, and just over a fifth (21%) were living with their parents because rent was too expensive.

The survey also revealed the emotional impact many felt living with their parents. Although they admitted they were lucky to have the option of living in the family home, 62% said they were worried that this prevented them from leading an independent life.

Shelter is warning that the current schemes on offer from the government will not help those on ordinary incomes. Instead, it says, they are left with two choices – expensive and unstable private renting, or living with mum and dad.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: “When getting even a toe on the housing ladder is completely out of reach and private rents are sky-high, it’s no wonder so many working young adults are having to move back into their childhood bedroom.

“We’ve proved that for people working hard on ordinary incomes, government schemes like Help to Buy and Starter Homes don’t help at all. And with plans to sell off many of the few genuinely affordable homes we have left, expensive and unstable private renting or living with mum and dad are the only options.

“The upcoming spending review is the government’s last chance to prove they can give back hope to a generation who are being left behind, by investing in the genuinely affordable homes they desperately need.”

The survey of 4,069 adults was conducted online between September 21 and 23.