Research deems Bromsgrove property prices are too high

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A NATIONAL report on homelessness has turned the spotlight on Bromsgrove's high housing prices.

The National Housing Federation released their Home Truths: West Midlands 2012 on Wednesday (November 21) with worrying implications for the town as the demand for more houses to be built has increased.

According to Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT) the town has the sixth highest house prices in the region with the average price of £237,280 been ten times the amount of the average income in Bromsgrove - £21,991.

BDHT, the district's largest provider of affordable housing, has more than 3,000 people on the waiting list for homes.

Despite this, the town saw the smallest increase in the amount of homeless people in the whole of Worcestershire for the last two years, with only three more rising to a total of 66.

Mike Brown, chief executive of BDHT, claimed homelessness had been kept down, due to the trust managing the waiting list well and placing people in homes which suited their needs.

"Even though this is a positive result, the fact remains that Bromsgrove is a dormer town and with such a big difference between the average income and property prices in the area, many people won’t be able to get onto the property ladder and will need affordable housing options from BDHT, such as shared ownership.

"More affordable properties need to be built in Bromsgrove, not just for those in need and struggling to find work, but also those who are working and taking home a wage but can’t meet the impossible mortgage criteria."

A spokesman for the National Housing Federation West Midlands said a massive shortfall in houses being built in the region led to private rents being driven up in places such as Bromsgrove.

Home Truths revealed since 2011, the number of new households formed doubled the amount of houses built in West Midlands and across Worcestershire the number of people on the waiting list for housing had risen by 123 per cent since 2001.

Gemma Duggan, West Midlands' lead manager for the National Housing Federation, said the shortfall was having a huge impact on people from all walks of life and all areas.

"With high house prices and rising rents, we now face the very real possibility that an entire generation will be priced out of being able to rent a home, let alone able to buy one."

The National Housing Federation has urged the Government and housing industry to drive more housebuilding in the right areas of the country and is calling on the public for support.

Visit www.yestohomes.co.uk to declare backing for the campaign.

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