Home ownership out of reach of young

Two-thirds of young parents in the borough Rochdale cannot afford to buy a family home.

Analysis by a Government housing advisory body revealed that only 29.1 per cent of families under 40 were able to afford a three-bedroom house.

The study, “Housing Affordability: A Fuller Picture, and Evaluating Requirements for Market and Affordable Housing”, was carried out by the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU) and found only 26.1 per cent of families under 40 could afford to buy a three-bedroom house in England in 2008 — an increase of 2.6 per cent on 2007.

Across the North-West, 33 per cent of young families could afford to get on the housing ladder. In London the figure is less than 10 per cent. The East Midlands was most affordable, with 35 per cent able to get on the ladder.

Typical first-time buyers have seen average deposits soar from 16 per cent of annual income in 2000 to 64 per cent in 2009, according the NHPAU.

In addition, affordability worsened last year as mortgage lenders reduced loan-to-value ratios — the amount they were prepared to lend in relation to the value of a property.

The study concluded: “During the past decade, there has been a deterioration in the affordability of home ownership.”

The Tories said the figures were evidence of Labour’s failure on housing policy.

Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps said: “Thanks to Gordon Brown, three out of four young families have been kicked off the first rung of the housing ladder, urged on by Labour ministers who want to attack the aspiration of home ownership.”

Housing charity Shelter said: “The shocking figures reinforce the true extent to which housing has become completely unaffordable for most ordinary people.”

However, the Department for Communities and Local Government said its commitment to supporting first-time buyers was demonstrated by moves to increase opportunities for families to buy a share of a home where they could not afford the full cost.

A spokeswoman said: “Our schemes are now open to households earning up to £60,000 who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to buy, and the funding we have put in place will result in 13,000 new homes being built for those aspiring to get on the housing ladder.”