Nearly a third of social housing tenants want to buy their own home

New study also shows public backing for more social housing

There is strong support for more social housing to be built (PA)

Around 29 per cent of social housing tenants in the UK are keen to get on to the property ladder, says a new report.

The survey of more than 1,000 social housing tenants in the UK shows that on average, tenants live in social housing for 12 years and that two thirds have lived in social housing for more than a decade.

Just over half of those tenants aged 18-34 want to buy in the future, compared to just nine per cent of people aged over 55.

The figures come from The Rental Exchange, a partnership between Experian and Big Issue Invest which helps to deal with financial, digital and social exclusion challenges faced by social housing tenants in the UK.

According to the report, tenants living in London/South East are more eager to own their own property compared to those in the South West, 30 per cent compared to 18 per cent respectively.

Meanwhile, a survey from Ipsos MORI indicates strong support for more social housing being built in their local area.

The research shows that of the nearly 2,000 people questioned:

* 58 per cent support more social housing being built in their local area

* 80 per cent say social housing should be available for people who can't afford the cost of private renting as well as being a safety net for the most vulnerable

* Two thirds say that social housing plays an important role in tackling poverty in Britain

Gill Payne, director of policy and external affairs at the National Housing Federation, said: "Everyone needs a decent home they can afford to live in and we should be proud of our country’s social housing that provides just that for millions of people across the country.

"But sadly, after decades of governments failing to build the affordable homes we need, we’re now faced with a housing crisis that can only be solved by having the right homes in the right places at a price that people can actually afford."