I'm 33 and don't own my own home. Let's look back.

18-22 Undergrad, including dorm for one year and apartment for the rest, we're looking at an average of about $300/m to either share a room or live in a converted closet with a blanket for a door (the last year). 300*48 = $14,400

23-28 Grad school, off campus for 5 years. Very cheap place, splitting a house with two other guys. Rent never raised while there because the owner was awesome. 650*60 = $39,000

29-32 First job, moved to Europe. Lived alone for the first time. 1000 euros/m ~ $1300/m averaged out over the exchange rates of the time. 1300*48 = $62,400

This year, another country and job, shared house again with two other people until my GF moves to join me, given exchange rates we're looking at around $1000/m. 1000*12 = $12,000

All told, I'm up to $127,800 I've spent on rent since leaving my parent's house. I'm a couple years from owning my own home. TO match what the article says, I was at around $85,000 by 30. That's well over the 53k GBP of the article, and that's for someone already over 30. Shit's only getting worse.

So yeah, the article underestimates, and/or includes tons of people who are forced to delay starting to pay rent because they have to stay with family. And that's a whole other source of damage to young people that the money figure ignores.