UK Housing Crisis Deepens as Average Homes Become Increasingly Unaffordable

ONS data reveals that only the top 10% of earners in England can afford an average-priced home, with affordability worsening nationwide since 2000.

House prices in England now average £298,000, equivalent to 8.6 years of disposable household income, compared to 4.4 years in 1999.
Northern Ireland is the only UK region where average-priced homes are deemed affordable for households with average incomes, with a price-to-income ratio of 5.0.
In London, the least affordable region, average-priced homes cost 14.1 years of income, making homeownership out of reach even for many in the top 10% of earners.
Labour's government has pledged to build 1.5 million homes in England within five years but faces challenges in addressing decades of housing undersupply.
Experts warn that increasing housing supply alone may not solve affordability issues without broader reforms to planning systems and social housing initiatives.