16.04.12
Housing gets more affordable
Public sector workers can afford housing in more towns compared to 2007, especially in the north of England, according to a new report.
The Halifax Key Worker Housing Review demonstrated that four in 10 towns are now classed as ‘affordable’ for nurses, teachers, etc. In 2007 just 12 towns were affordable.
The list is based on locations where the average house prices are below four times the average earnings for key workers.
Former mill town Nelson in Lancashire has the most affordable housing for firefighters, teachers and nurses while police officers fare best living in Newtonabbey nearBelfastand paramedics in Peterlee,CountyDurham.
Martin Ellis, housing economist atHalifax, said that growth in earnings coupled with house price declines accounted for the recovery. “The greatest concentration of this improvement has been in northernEngland,WalesandScotlandbut there are still considerable affordability issues for key workers in the South East.
“House prices nationally have changed little in the past year, which together with pressure on public sector earnings, has resulted in only a modest improvement in home affordability for key workers in the past 12 months.”
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