The average first-time home is now outgrown in just four and a half years, as a growing number of new buyers treat their initial purchase as a temporary stepping stone, new research from Santander UK reveals.

In contrast, second or third homes are occupied for almost twice as long, with an average tenure of eight years.

The shift reflects a more pragmatic and transactional approach to first-time homeownership, where compromises on space and location are increasingly made in order to get onto the housing ladder.

Santander found that one in four first-time buyers admit to feeling no emotional attachment to their property. By comparison, among older generations the bond appears far stronger – one in five people aged over 80 still live in their first home.

The decision to move on quickly is often prompted by the practical limitations of first properties. More than half (51%) of first-time buyers purchase either a studio flat or a home with just one or two bedrooms. This is despite the fact that, according to the lender’s own data, 18% of these buyers now have at least one dependent.

Location compromises also appear widespread. Affordability constraints mean that two thirds (67%) of first-time homeowners end up buying in a neighbourhood they had never visited before the purchase.

The desire to upsize or relocate comes swiftly, with buyers driven by the need for a larger property (37%), a more desirable location (18%), proximity to family (18%) or access to a garden (14%).

Ruby Rose Eadie, a “lifestyle influencer” and mother of two, described her own experience of treating her first home as a temporary measure. “My first home will have a special place in my heart forever, but I understand the drive to become a ‘next-time buyer’ all too well,” she said.

“While moving up the ladder can be difficult, I don’t think it compares to affording that first property.”

David Morris, head of homes at Santander UK, said that many first-time buyers are approaching homeownership with their heads rather than their hearts.

“While many of us might feel sentimental about the day we got our first set of keys, the new wave of more savvy first-time owners seems to be increasingly pragmatic,” he said.

“Given the ever-present affordability challenges faced by today’s first-time buyers, many are finding that the only way to get onto the housing ladder is by making compromises on space or location. Once that first foot is secure, their pragmatism is paying off.”

Morris advised buyers already planning their next move to make sure their mortgage is portable and to fully understand the costs involved in moving.