The Affordability of Housing Must Be Addressed

A recent survey suggests that many young people do not expect to be able to afford their first home for many years to come.

The survey was taken by YouGov, commissioned by the National Housing Federation, and the results showed that 54 percent of young people in London expected they would have to wait ten years or more to buy their first property.

The survey also showed that many of the young people knew what to look for in potential properties, including energy efficient measures such as double glazing, and central heating systems, but simply didn’t have the money to buy.

Katy John, spokesperson for PircedOut.org.uk, commented on these results saying that this is an issue which should be addressed by the main political parties in the run up to the General Election.

She said that, over the last decade, affordability of homes has become a growing concern for those buying for the first time, and the problem is even worse in the capital.

When British people are in the position to be able to afford a home, the Energy Saving Trust is offering advice to help them make a good decision.

The trust recommends that buyers find out how old the current boiler is, and that if it is 15 years or older then it may need replacing with a more efficient model. The ideal boiler is a modern condensing boiler, which buyers should look out for alongside other energy efficient measures such as insulation and uPVC windows.