Blue collar workers on lower wages ‘are being hit the hardest by Britain’s ongoing housing crisis’
A study by Redfern Review has revealed that more than half-a-million fewer middle income families own a place of their own
BLUE collar workers are bearing the brunt of Britain’s home-ownership crisis, a study reveals.
More than half-a-million fewer middle-income families own a place of their own as top-earners snap up all the property.
And some MPs fear that without urgent action home-ownership could soon become a preserve of the rich.
Britain has dropped out of Europe’s top 20 countries for house sales – and is now behind nations that favour renting, such as France and Holland.
But those in skilled jobs have been hit doubly hard as the market tilts in favour of higher-paid white collar professionals.
New analysis shows that home-ownership among lawyers, doctors and accountants rose by 304,000 in the past six year.
But over the same period, the number of plumbers, electricians, chefs, train drivers and mechanics buying their own house fell by 556,219.
There has also been a huge fall in young couples on the property ladder – with the number of under-35s buying a home down 334,000.
Shadow housing minister John Healey said: “Theresa May wants to claim the Conservatives work for the working class but these figures show had badly her government is failing on housing.
“The Tories have spent six years talking about home-ownership but their flagship schemes have failed to help blue-collar Brits get a good start in life or build the new homes the country needs.
“Labour is determined to give young working people fresh hope of their own home by building more affordable homes for first-time buyers, boosting wages for young Brits and helping them to save.”
The analysis is revealed in the Redfern Review on home-ownership which will be published this week.
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It will show that West Midlands is hardest hit, with 116,411 fewer blue collar workers buying their own home.
The North West comes second with 94,853 fewer, followed by Yorkshire and Humber, down 84,929 and the South East, which is 60,180 lower.
But housing minister Gavin Barwell said: “Labour are all talk and no action when it comes to housing. Between 1997 and 2010, first-time buyers fell by a massive 55 per cent.
“That’s not surprising given that, under Labour, building fell to levels not seen since the 1920s.
"This Conservative government is building a country that works for everyone and we will shortly be publishing a White Paper setting out our plans to get even more homes build and more quickly - a million by 2020."