TUC sounds alarm over fall in home ownership

date: Friday 19 June 2015
embargo: For immediate release

Commenting on figures published today (Friday) by the Office for National Statistics, which show that between 2001 and 2011 home ownership fell for the first time in a century, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Successive governments have not made housing a high enough policy priority. As a result we now have the most expensive and dysfunctional housing system in Europe, with millions of people living in often sub-standard private rented accommodation.

“A generation of young people face the prospect of never owning their own home. There are no longer any areas in the South of England where average house prices are less than five times the average wage.

“Selling off existing affordable homes through Right to Buy is not the way to deal with Britain’s housing crisis. With the government able to borrow at rock bottom rates it needs to get out its cheque book and start building.

“Investing in house building will pay for itself and generate thousands of jobs and apprenticeships.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:
- A copy of the ONS Housing Census can be found at: http://visual.ons.gov.uk/housing-census
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

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