Housing affordability is affecting the wellbeing and life decisions of millions of people across the UK, a new survey suggests.
On Monday, the Affordable Housing Commission (AHC) published findings from a poll of more than 2,000 British adults.
The survey, conducted by YouGov, showed that housing stress is putting a strain on mental health and dictating when people decide to move out from their family home and have children of their own.
One in seven (13 per cent) participants said that their mental health had been negatively impacted by their housing situation, a figure which increased to a quarter (25 per cent) for those living in “unaffordable” housing, where rent or mortgage is equal to more than a third of their total household income.
The research also revealed that 13 per cent of UK adults under the age of 45 who are in a couple have delayed or decided not to have children due to their housing situation – potentially affecting 1.8m people nationally.
The data also showed that one in 10 (10 per cent) UK adults now live with family or friends. This rises to almost one in five (18 per cent) for 25-34 year-olds.
Lord Richard Best, chair of the Affordable Housing Commission, which was set up by think tank the Smith Institute and is funded by the Nationwide Foundation, said: “The housing system is hindering, not helping, millions of people – particularly those who are putting off big life decisions because of it.
“Unaffordable housing, especially in the private rented sector, is now a serious strain on people’s mental health and a barrier to having a better life.
He continued: “We need a fundamental rethink and structural change to rebalance it and ensure it works now and for future generations.”
Source: independent
