Thousands are priced out of homes market

Homes in parts of Staffordshire are costing almost 10 times average salaries, making it harder than ever to get on the property ladder, according to a new report.

The National Housing Federation reveals that for young professionals and low to middle income families alike, high house prices, rising rents and a lack of affordable housing are making living in the West Midlands difficult.

In South Staffordshire the average house price is £212,488 –a total of 9.8 times the average income of people living there.

For Lichfield it is 9.6 times the salary at £233,374, while in Stafford the average house costs £182,733 or 8.8 times the average salary. In Cannock Chase it is 6.8 times, or £137,162.

In the Black Country, Dudley ranks the most costly at 7.9 times average income or £151,181 for an average house.

For Walsall it is 7.7 times or £143,191, and in Wolverhampton, seven times or £125,858.

In Sandwell the average house price is £122,665, or 6.7 times average income of £18,439.

People in Wyre Forest can expect a house to cost 9.9 times the average salary, or £176,307.

Bridgnorth is ranked sixth in a West Midlands league table of least affordable local authority areas, with neighbouring South Shropshire topping the table.

According to the federation, 8,250 new homes were built in the region in 2010/2011 while 18,000 new households are expected to form in the West Midlands each year to 2033.

More than 157,000 households are on social housing waiting lists and the region has also seen an increase in overcrowding of 14 per cent over the last two years with 8,440 households accepted as homeless in 2010/2011.