Housing shortage puts homes out of reach
A shortage of homes has led to the average age of an unassisted first-time buyer reaching 37, an industry body has claimed.
The Home Builders Federation has highlighted the figure to promote New Homes Month, which runs during September.
It also noted that nearly a third of men and a fifth of women aged between 20 and 34 live with their parents, nearly five million people are on local authority waiting lists, and fewer homes were built last year than at any point since the 1920s.
The umbrella group says the shortfall of homes is approaching one million.
HBF executive chairman Stewart Baseley said: ‘House building is a British industry success that is responsible for hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country.
‘New homes are vital for first time buyers and young families – and are also greener and so cheaper to run.’
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Readers' comments (6)
Anonymous | 06/09/2010 1:24 pm
Would that be the same country that has 620.000 empty homes in England alone and NI has 20% of its housing stock empty?
Anybody got the figures for wales and scotland?
where does he get his shortfall from ? The people on the council waiting list are already housed, they just want to move to a large roomy house, they can not really afford!
They would be even more of a success if they built mass cheap housing Hong kong style. Rather than expensive egg boxes.
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Chris | 06/09/2010 1:26 pm
The haves can be so selfish at times.
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navidson | 06/09/2010 2:17 pm
"A shortage of homes has led to the average age of an unassisted first-time buyer reaching 37, an industry body has claimed"
Put the word 'affordable' before homes and there's your story
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Melvin Bone | 06/09/2010 2:47 pm
All this to plug 'New Homes Month' the new month long celebration of new homes?
Inflation is a killer as last year it was only new homes week...
Take a look at there optimistic 'buy, buy, buy' website from 12 months ago:
http://www.nhw2009.co.uk
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Anonymous | 06/09/2010 4:00 pm
Are new homes really greener that thouthfully renovated existing stock? The Empty Homes Agency in a study, "New Tricks With Old Bricks" suggests it's a close call.
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Melvin Bone | 07/09/2010 8:59 am
‘New homes are vital for first time buyers and young families – and are also greener and so cheaper to run.’
The cheapest homes for first time buyers are normally run down homes in cheaper areas, I certainly could never afford the premium of a new house...and new homes are normally so flippin' small...
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