John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary, commenting on the English Housing Survey report showing there are now almost 900,000 fewer households under the age of 45 owning their own home than in 2010, said:

“These new figures confirm a generation locked out of home-ownership over the last decade and shows the scale of Conservative failure on housing.

“The Tories are failing young people on ordinary incomes to realise their dream of homeownership. Five years ago, Conservative ministers promised to build 200,000 ‘starter homes’ but not a single one has been built, while the number of new low-cost homes to buy like shared ownership almost has halved since 2010.

“The country needs a new plan to fix the housing crisis, not a new Tory leader. Labour will back first-time buyers with 100,000 discounted FirstBuy Homes, help curb renting costs and give first dibs on new homes for local people.”