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| Lack of affordable homes delays parenthood | Lack of affordable homes delays parenthood |
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| One in five 31 to 44-year-olds who don't have children are delaying starting a family because of the lack of affordable housing, according to a report by Shelter this week. | One in five 31 to 44-year-olds who don't have children are delaying starting a family because of the lack of affordable housing, according to a report by Shelter this week. |
| The housing charity found than one in four (26%) of those who decided to wait say they have been doing so for five years or more. The figures, revealed in a YouGov survey commissioned by Shelter, represent a 63% increase since 2009. | The housing charity found than one in four (26%) of those who decided to wait say they have been doing so for five years or more. The figures, revealed in a YouGov survey commissioned by Shelter, represent a 63% increase since 2009. |
| High house prices and the large deposits required mean one in three first-time buyers are over the age of 35. | High house prices and the large deposits required mean one in three first-time buyers are over the age of 35. |
| Meanwhile, many are trapped in small rental apartments that are unsuitable for raising a family – but rising rents mean few are able to put aside enough cash to save for a deposit on a house. | Meanwhile, many are trapped in small rental apartments that are unsuitable for raising a family – but rising rents mean few are able to put aside enough cash to save for a deposit on a house. |
| Rents demanded by landlords are hitting record highs, said LSL Property Services, which owns the UK's largest lettings agent network, including Your Move and Reeds Rains. It found that the average rent in July hit a record high of £725 a month in England and Wales. It added that four in 10 landlords expect to increase rents in the coming 12 months by an average of 4.5%, with just one in 100 investors likely to reduce them . | Rents demanded by landlords are hitting record highs, said LSL Property Services, which owns the UK's largest lettings agent network, including Your Move and Reeds Rains. It found that the average rent in July hit a record high of £725 a month in England and Wales. It added that four in 10 landlords expect to increase rents in the coming 12 months by an average of 4.5%, with just one in 100 investors likely to reduce them . |
| It also emerged this week that an influx of foreign investors is driving a revival in Britain's buy-to-let market, threatening to push up rents and crowd out first-time buyers. The Bank of England said: "Foreign investors have branched out of commercial property and begun to invest in London residential lettings." | It also emerged this week that an influx of foreign investors is driving a revival in Britain's buy-to-let market, threatening to push up rents and crowd out first-time buyers. The Bank of England said: "Foreign investors have branched out of commercial property and begun to invest in London residential lettings." |
| Shelter is now calling on the government to take radical action to stop an entire generation being held back by the desperate shortage of affordable homes. | Shelter is now calling on the government to take radical action to stop an entire generation being held back by the desperate shortage of affordable homes. |
| Kay Boycott, director of communications at Shelter, said: "It's heartbreaking that so many people are being forced to put their lives on hold in this way. The government has a responsibility to act now to ensure that today's young people, and the generation after, aren't denied something as basic as a proper home to raise their children in." | Kay Boycott, director of communications at Shelter, said: "It's heartbreaking that so many people are being forced to put their lives on hold in this way. The government has a responsibility to act now to ensure that today's young people, and the generation after, aren't denied something as basic as a proper home to raise their children in." |
| Netmums founder Sally Russell added: "One of the most basic requirements is to have a family home, yet this is becoming increasingly unattainable for many. Sadly, leaving it too late means they may never be able to have children. For others, it could mean both parents forced to work full time when their baby is tiny just to keep a roof over their heads." | Netmums founder Sally Russell added: "One of the most basic requirements is to have a family home, yet this is becoming increasingly unattainable for many. Sadly, leaving it too late means they may never be able to have children. For others, it could mean both parents forced to work full time when their baby is tiny just to keep a roof over their heads." |
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