Separated parents are experiencing housing stress at an alarming rate, with just 48 per cent of non-resident parents and 47 per cent of resident parents owning a house or paying a mortgage after separation. The figure is considerably lower than for parents still together, where the rate is as high as 81 per cent.
A study of 4000 households by the University of Tasmania found that separated mothers and fathers were more likely to suffer home ownership stress. Rental assistance is available for many resident parents (parents who loved with the children most of the time) but nothing is offered for non-resident parents (83 per cent of whom are fathers).
School of Sociology senior lecturer Maggie Walter led the study with Dr Kristen Natalier.
"The key finding was that separated parents, those we call parents apart, have far worse housing outcomes," Dr Walter said.
"Mortgages are so big now and many people break up fairly early in the relationship so there's not a lot of equity in the home.
"Often neither can afford to buy out the other person, so both parties can fall out of home ownership."
The study also showed a higher number of separated parents were renting, and almost one in five renters were unable to pay their rent on time at least once in the year.
According to family charities, because some single fathers are unable to afford a 'suitable' home, they are not able to care for their children at all.
Join the discussion on Everything else about home loans
|