Young adults are increasingly struggling to move out of their family homes over a lack of affordable housing and are in danger of missing out on parenthood, it was feared last night.

The stark warning comes after a survey found nearly one in three parents of adult children (29%) in the East of England has at least one adult child living at home.

The research, carried out by ComRes for the National Housing Federation, revealed eight out of 10 (80%) parents with at least one adult child living at home said they are doing so because they cannot afford to move out.

It was also disclosed that nine out of 10 parents with grown-up children believe there is not enough affordable housing.

The survey was carried out on parents with adult children aged between 21 and 40.

Unless more homes are built, the National Housing Federation warned, the situation could become “even bleaker” for parents with children in their 20s and 30s.

It said first-time buyer house prices are set to increase by 46% by 2020 while rents in 2020 will be 54% higher than today.

Claire Astbury, east of England lead manager for the National Housing Federation, warned the “empty nest syndrome” was becoming a thing of the past.

She said: “Rather than waving their children off as they grow up and move out, parents are putting a roof over their children’s heads well in to their 30s.

“Moving out and setting up a family home of your own is a rite of passage that is no longer an option for many.

“We are delaying adulthood for grown-ups who are left stuck in their childhood bedrooms. As a result parents may also feel trapped, unable to move on with their lives and benefit from the freedom which comes when their sons and daughters move out.

“As a country we need to build more homes at the right prices in the right areas now to ensure there is another option.

“The decisions about where more homes are built are being made locally, by local councillors. They will act if local people say they want more homes in their local communities.

“Unless local communities speak out in favour of more housing, mums and dads across the country will be stuck providing homes for their adult children.”