According to Halifax’s State of the Nation: Mortgages research, there is a difference between the ages when it comes to homebuying with partners – only around one in four (28%) 25-34 year olds were married when they bought their home with their partner, compared to nearly three in four (73%) 35-44 year olds.

The research also highlighted that four out of five homeowners believe they would find it harder to get a mortgage if they were looking for their first house now.

There is a gap between the sexes when it comes to mortgage payments; over 1 in 10 women pay more than half their average income on their mortgage, compared to only 1 in 20 men who pay the equivalent amount.

Stephen Noakes, mortgage director, said: “It is interesting to see how different age groups see the market differently.

Those aged 25-34, who in the majority of cases would have been buying their first house during or after the financial crisis, have clearly been affected.

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“The fact that theirs is the only generation that thinks buying a home with someone is a bigger commitment than getting married speaks volumes.”

Interestingly, the survey also found that a quarter of 18-24 year olds who own a home own it outright – a higher percentage than 25-34, 35-44, and 45-54.