One in four people are worried about their home being repossessed

Half the population concerned about the effects of a possible rise in mortgage rates, says new report.

Alex Johnson
Wednesday 24 October 2012 07:31 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The figures published today by Which? suggest a fragile housing market is dividing the nation. The report argues that an increasing gap is growing between older, more financially secure homeowners and those aged 30-49 who bought their homes recently and are struggling as well as younger people who cannot get on the property ladder.

Their research also reveals taht half the population are worried about mortgage rates and just over a quarter of people with mortgages are concerned having their home repossessed.

Which?'s Quarterly Consumer Report also reveals that home ownership is increasingly out of reach for first-time buyers with rising rents making it harder for people to save for the large deposits needed. More than half of people under 30 who do not own a home are worried about getting on the property ladder.

"The housing market is failing not just one but two generations of consumers," said Which? executive director Richard Lloyd, "with many mortgage prisoners trapped on their current deal and young people excluded from the housing market altogether.

"The Chancellor must put tougher obligations on banks that get cheap finance through the Government's Funding for Lending Scheme so that more is done to help those who are struggling through no fault of their own, and especially to ensure that mortgage prisoners and first time buyers can benefit from lower borrowing costs."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in