About Hampshire

High house prices on the South Coast, combined with the increasing costs of higher education mean that more students and people starting their working lives are opting to either stay or move back home.

The phenomena is known as 'kippers', 'boomerang kids', or even the 'failed to launch syndrome'. 

According to government figures, the numbers of men in their 20's living at home has risen from 59% to 80% in the past 15 years and amongst women the increase has been from 41% to 50 %. At the same time, the average age to get married has changed from 26 to 30 for men - and from 24 to 28 for women.

Jemma moved back in with her family

28 year-old Jemma moved home after a relationship breakdown meant she could no longer rent a property on her own. She and her three year-old son now live with her mother Sally, step father and 23 year-old sister.

She explained to BBC Radio Solent's Julian Clegg: "I can't afford to get on the property ladder ... I'm very lucky we have such a close family - I'd quite happily leave, but I can't get on the property ladder, it's just beyond my means."

Jemma admits there are pinch points to living with parents:"You always have to double check, you can't always do what you want, when you want - there are different personalities to consider. It's silly little things like doing a wash when someone else is - they are little things but they can add up."

Mum Sally sees having all three generations of her family together largely as a positive: "It is a blessing seeing my grandson growing up, but there are difficulties that go along with it."

Many parents enjoy the company of having their kids around them as they enter their 20s, and avoiding the 'empty nest', but it does put pressures on family relationships.

The property boom has passed some people by

The Parentline Plus charity says it receives thousands of calls a year from parents who are coming under increased pressure and stress by having their children still living at home.

'Kids' in their 20's and 30's may treat their home like a free hotel, or they might refuse to accept that their lifestyle clashes horribly with their parents'.

Suzy Hayman from Parentline Plus said: "More young people are staying at home longer - no doubt about it.We hear from people where there is conflict and unhappiness."

Parentline's suggestions on how to adapt to the changing relationship revolve around communicating and knowing exactly where everyone stands.

"We know how to deal with toddlers, children and teenagers, but when they are adults, we are not quite sure how to handle things. With 'returners' the thing to do is to sit down and say 'fine - this is our house, and there are some rules', discuss how to manage this and insist on simple courtesy like not emptying the fridge."