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| Rural towns with no young people? Under 45s can't afford to live there | Rural towns with no young people? Under 45s can't afford to live there |
| (10 days later) | |
| The question draws a hoot of laughter, sometimes a snort of derision. Asking young families if they own property in Uckfield, East Sussex, is unfailingly dismissed as absurd. | The question draws a hoot of laughter, sometimes a snort of derision. Asking young families if they own property in Uckfield, East Sussex, is unfailingly dismissed as absurd. |
| "It's absolutely ridiculous, virtually impossible for young families to buy around here," said Kayleigh Waters, a mother with one child, who has lived in the rural town all her life. She says that even though she and her partner have drawn up a five-year plan to get on Uckfield's housing ladder, both remain sceptical. "We're saving up for a deposit, but whether we'll ever get a mortgage remains to be seen," said Waters, who has rented accommodation in the town for eight years. | "It's absolutely ridiculous, virtually impossible for young families to buy around here," said Kayleigh Waters, a mother with one child, who has lived in the rural town all her life. She says that even though she and her partner have drawn up a five-year plan to get on Uckfield's housing ladder, both remain sceptical. "We're saving up for a deposit, but whether we'll ever get a mortgage remains to be seen," said Waters, who has rented accommodation in the town for eight years. |
| Her friend, mother Kerryanne O'Keefe, 32, added: "There's just no way we can afford to buy. We're stuck in a rut." Between them, they know of only one family in their peer group that has bought a home in Uckfield, and that was six years ago. | Her friend, mother Kerryanne O'Keefe, 32, added: "There's just no way we can afford to buy. We're stuck in a rut." Between them, they know of only one family in their peer group that has bought a home in Uckfield, and that was six years ago. |
| Their dilemma is increasingly common among young families hoping to settle in the British countryside. Last Tuesday, a report by the National Housing Federation (NHF) found that rural areas are witnessing an exodus of people in their thirties as escalating house prices outstrip incomes. The number of people aged 30-44 has dropped nearly 9% in the countryside over the last decade, while numbers rise in urban areas. | Their dilemma is increasingly common among young families hoping to settle in the British countryside. Last Tuesday, a report by the National Housing Federation (NHF) found that rural areas are witnessing an exodus of people in their thirties as escalating house prices outstrip incomes. The number of people aged 30-44 has dropped nearly 9% in the countryside over the last decade, while numbers rise in urban areas. |
| Wealden district council, which includes Uckfield and surrounding villages, was found to have the highest exodus of young families in the south-east, with 13% having moved out over the past decade. | Wealden district council, which includes Uckfield and surrounding villages, was found to have the highest exodus of young families in the south-east, with 13% having moved out over the past decade. |
| In Uckfield itself, estate agents highlight reasons behind the shifting demographic. In Freeman Forman, branch manager Robin Smith said that the average age of the first-time buyer was 36 and that young families were spending years saving to get on the ladder, a proportion living with their parents as they attempted to raise a deposit. Further along the high street, estate agent Mansell McTaggart reveals that just 3% of sales are to young families, observing that people often retire here from London, which is only 40 miles away. | In Uckfield itself, estate agents highlight reasons behind the shifting demographic. In Freeman Forman, branch manager Robin Smith said that the average age of the first-time buyer was 36 and that young families were spending years saving to get on the ladder, a proportion living with their parents as they attempted to raise a deposit. Further along the high street, estate agent Mansell McTaggart reveals that just 3% of sales are to young families, observing that people often retire here from London, which is only 40 miles away. |
| House prices in Uckfield remain relatively robust, bucking the national trend. The price of good-quality houses in good locations matched prices at the height of the housing market in 2007, said Smith. The consensus among Uckfield estate agents is that properties have outperformed the local average. | House prices in Uckfield remain relatively robust, bucking the national trend. The price of good-quality houses in good locations matched prices at the height of the housing market in 2007, said Smith. The consensus among Uckfield estate agents is that properties have outperformed the local average. |
| In the past year, house prices in Uckfield were 9% up on the previous 12 months, according to Rightmove, more than six times the rate of property price rises in the south-east of England, where the annual rate of price growth is up to 1.4%. Detached homes in Wealden regularly fetch more than £500,000, compared with the national average of £324,602. The dynamic can mean that young families from Uckfield find it better value to move to London, with its salary weighting. | In the past year, house prices in Uckfield were 9% up on the previous 12 months, according to Rightmove, more than six times the rate of property price rises in the south-east of England, where the annual rate of price growth is up to 1.4%. Detached homes in Wealden regularly fetch more than £500,000, compared with the national average of £324,602. The dynamic can mean that young families from Uckfield find it better value to move to London, with its salary weighting. |
| Although amenities associated with young families, such as schools, are not yet closing, despite the difficulties for young families, some say the high street is catering increasingly for the elderly. | Although amenities associated with young families, such as schools, are not yet closing, despite the difficulties for young families, some say the high street is catering increasingly for the elderly. |
| Christine Ripley, 79, born in nearby Newick, lamented the loss of "more frivolous shops geared to the young", while Marguerite Johnson, manager of the Uckfield Preservation Society, noted the higher age of shoppers but said that it was difficult to quantify. | Christine Ripley, 79, born in nearby Newick, lamented the loss of "more frivolous shops geared to the young", while Marguerite Johnson, manager of the Uckfield Preservation Society, noted the higher age of shoppers but said that it was difficult to quantify. |
| The UHF report found that the number of over-65s in rural areas had risen 2.5 times faster than in towns and cities, with Philip Day, senior negotiator at Mansell McTaggart in Uckfield, confirming that retired people make up a significant proportion of the market. | The UHF report found that the number of over-65s in rural areas had risen 2.5 times faster than in towns and cities, with Philip Day, senior negotiator at Mansell McTaggart in Uckfield, confirming that retired people make up a significant proportion of the market. |
| For the young families hoping to gain a foothold on the property ladder, the prospect is as far away as ever. Ben Fairman of the long-established butcher's, JF Bishop Ltd, rents a three-bedroom home for £1,000 a month for his partner and two young children. | For the young families hoping to gain a foothold on the property ladder, the prospect is as far away as ever. Ben Fairman of the long-established butcher's, JF Bishop Ltd, rents a three-bedroom home for £1,000 a month for his partner and two young children. |
| The 25-year-old revealed that he had been saving for five years to get a foot on the property ladder and said many friends had given up. "Some mates have moved to more remote rural areas where it's a fraction cheaper, some have gone to London and between 30% and 40% still live with their parents," said Fairman, who has worked at the butcher's since he was 18. | The 25-year-old revealed that he had been saving for five years to get a foot on the property ladder and said many friends had given up. "Some mates have moved to more remote rural areas where it's a fraction cheaper, some have gone to London and between 30% and 40% still live with their parents," said Fairman, who has worked at the butcher's since he was 18. |
| Student Tom Harper, 23, said he did not know of anyone of his age who could consider buying in the area. One factor, said Day, was that many young families were trapped in a vicious circle that meant they faced a choice of paying ever higher rent or buying elsewhere. "People are renting and trying to save for a deposit, but a lack of housing means that more people want to rent, pushing up demand and prices." The Duke Letting company said that around 80% of its renting clients were young families. | Student Tom Harper, 23, said he did not know of anyone of his age who could consider buying in the area. One factor, said Day, was that many young families were trapped in a vicious circle that meant they faced a choice of paying ever higher rent or buying elsewhere. "People are renting and trying to save for a deposit, but a lack of housing means that more people want to rent, pushing up demand and prices." The Duke Letting company said that around 80% of its renting clients were young families. |
| It's not just those looking to get a start in the property market; young families hoping to acquire social housing in Uckfield are also struggling to live where they want. Martha Mayes, supervisor at the town's Citizens Advice Bureau, said that a lack of social housing was compounded by a loss of benefits. Some young families, she added, were offered temporary accommodation almost 20 miles away in Eastbourne. "The only people who don't seem to be affected are the over-65s," she said. | It's not just those looking to get a start in the property market; young families hoping to acquire social housing in Uckfield are also struggling to live where they want. Martha Mayes, supervisor at the town's Citizens Advice Bureau, said that a lack of social housing was compounded by a loss of benefits. Some young families, she added, were offered temporary accommodation almost 20 miles away in Eastbourne. "The only people who don't seem to be affected are the over-65s," she said. |
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