Home
News
Family News
The Bank of Mum and Dad is handing over more than £11,000 on average, new research finds

The Bank of Mum and Dad is handing over more than £11,000 on average, new research finds

Parents are giving adult children an average of £11,241, with housing and cost of living pressures among the reasons for the financial support.

A young Asian woman and her elderly mother sitting at a table and calculating expenses in their household together.

Getty/Krisada tepkulmanont

MadeForMums

Published: August 10, 2026 at 4:49 PM

Save

For many parents, helping their children financially does not stop when they reach adulthood. New research suggests the Bank of Mum and Dad is providing substantial sums, with adults who receive parental support getting an average of £11,241.

Research from savings app Spring found that around one in seven (15%) UK adults receive financial support from their parents. Among those who do, the sums can be significant, with one in four receiving £10,000 or more.

The findings highlight the growing role family support can play as adult children face major financial milestones, from getting onto the property ladder to managing everyday household costs.

One in four recipients get £10,000 or more

While a third of those receiving parental support get between £1,000 and £4,999, almost one in five (18%) receive between £5,000 and £9,999.

Among those receiving larger sums:

16% receive between £10,000 and £24,999
9% receive between £30,000 and £50,000
0.3% receive more than £50,000

The research, conducted among 2,001 UK adults between 19 and 21 January 2026, suggests parental support is being used to help adult children overcome a range of financial pressures.

Cost of living pressures are driving support

Housing affordability is one of the key reasons parents are stepping in. A quarter of recipients say challenges around housing affordability are among the main reasons their parents provide financial support.

But it is not just house deposits that are prompting families to lend a hand. Four in 10 (40%) recipients say wider cost of living pressures are driving the support they receive.

Parents are also helping with specific housing and debt commitments. Around one in 16 (6%) UK adults say their parents have recently helped, or are expected to help in future, with rent or mortgage contributions.

The same proportion have received, or expect to receive, help with a first-home deposit, while 6% have received or expect to receive assistance paying off debt before applying for a mortgage.

‘The scale of support being provided can be significant’

Derek Sprawling, Head of Money at Spring, says the research shows that the Bank of Mum and Dad can offer considerably more than a helping hand with a house deposit.

Many people associate the Bank of Mum and Dad with helping younger family members onto the property ladder, but these findings show the scale of support being provided can be significant.

Derek Sprawling, Head of Money at Spring

He adds that financial support from family can make a meaningful difference to those who are able to access it.

"For those fortunate enough to receive financial help, it can accelerate progress towards major life goals such as buying a home or building financial stability. However, not everyone has access to that support, making personal savings more important than ever."

Sprawling says building up savings gradually can help people prepare for major expenses and reduce their reliance on family support.

"Building savings gradually over time remains one of the most effective ways to create financial resilience. Setting clear goals and regularly putting money aside can help people prepare for future milestones and reduce reliance on external financial support."

Not everyone has access to the Bank of Mum and Dad

The findings underline the difference family financial support can make when housing and household costs are putting pressure on younger adults.

For families who can afford to help, a contribution towards a deposit, mortgage, rent or debt can potentially make a significant difference. But with only 15% of UK adults surveyed saying they receive financial support from their parents, access to the Bank of Mum and Dad is far from universal.

For those without family financial support, building personal savings remains one way to work towards future goals, although the research highlights just how substantial the sums some families are able to provide can be.

Authors

MadeForMums