The south-west of England is beginning to join the south-east and London as the regions where housing is unaffordable for key workers, according to a new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The study, by Professor Steve Wilcox of the Centre for Housing Policy at York University, found that London accounted for the first eight local authorities in league tables for the highest ratio of house prices to incomes. In 33 local authority areas the cost of a four- or five-room house was more than five times the average salary of a key worker. The report also found that fewer than one in five working households could afford to buy a home in nine areas of the south-west, compared with only three areas in the south-east and east regions. The key workers surveyed for the report included a qualified nurse, teacher, social worker and police constable. Childcare workers, who are less well-paid than these other professionals, were not included in the research.
The south-west of England is beginning to join the south-east and London as the regions where housing is unaffordable for key workers, according to a new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The study, by Professor Steve Wilcox of the Centre for Housing Policy at York University, found that London accounted for the first eight local authorities in league tables for the highest ratio of house prices to incomes. In 33 local authority areas the cost of a four- or five-room house was more than five times the average salary of a key worker. The report also found that fewer than one in five working households could afford to buy a home in nine areas of the south-west, compared with only three areas in the south-east and east regions. The key workers surveyed for the report included a qualified nurse, teacher, social worker and police constable.
Childcare workers, who are less well-paid than these other professionals, were not included in the research.
