House 'Crisis': Campaigners Rally In Westminster

Housing in Britain is in crisis, campaigners say, as 2,500 people attended a rally in Westminster calling on politicians to take urgent action.

The protest, which includes housing associations and charities as well as major developers, cites the lowest housebuilding levels since the 1920s as evidence that demand for homes across the country is far outstripping supply.

The problem is particularly affecting younger, first-time buyers, they say, who are increasingly delaying or being squeezed out of owning a property.

"It's really sad, the fact that not everyone can buy their own property," said Katy Popiol, 28, a first time buyer in West London.

"It's frustrating to say at least. It would be great to see more people my age to be pretty much the owner of their own property."

Britain needs 245,000 new homes a year, but there are currently only 125,000 a year being built, according to the Housing Federation, which convened the rally.

Recent figures also shed light on the measures young people are willing to go to in order to raise the money needed for a deposit.

Of those aged 18 to 34, 14% are considering living with parents, while 15% are considering delaying having a family or getting married.

One in 25 are thinking of taking part in medical trials in order to get on the housing ladder.

Although all three main political parties have acknowledged the need to build more homes, none are pledging to build at the level campaigners say is needed to immediately meet demand.

The Conservatives and Labour have committed to developing 200,000 new homes by 2020, and the Liberal Democrats have said they will build 300,000.

Campaigners say it is not enough.

"Politicians need to pull their heads out of the sand and realise that housing has become a major general election issue," Henry Gregg, of the National Housing Federation, said.

"We are calling on all the political parties to end the housing crisis within a generation and build the homes that young people desperately need."