• Successful first-time buyers rely on bank of Mum and Dad and have two incomes higher than average, leaving those without help, or single, stuck in the rented sector
• Building societies have the potential to increase lending to first-time buyers but are limited by regulations
• BSA is calling on government to make homes more affordable, more available, and more appropriate to the needs of those living in them

A new report from the Building Societies Association (BSA) has found that significant changes are required if we are to help prospective first-time buyers get onto the property ladder in the current housing market. It also warns that policy solutions that help today’s first-time buyers mustn’t compromise the homeownership prospects of future generations.

This report, which has been written by housing expert Neal Hudson, finds that the ability to become a first-time buyer is increasingly dependent on the so-called Bank of Mum and Dad, while successful first-time buyers increasingly need to have two incomes that are higher than the average. Meanwhile, those without family help, are single or on lower incomes are being excluded from homeownership. In March 2024, 32% of people reported that they want to buy their own home but don’t think they will be able to.

Affordability

The biggest challenge facing first-time buyers is affordability – both affording the cost of buying a home and the cost of owning a home. The sizeable deposit generally required to get on the property ladder has been a barrier to homeownership for some time. However, the BSA Property Tracker Report shows that the recent interest rate rises have led to affordability of mortgage repayments being cited as the biggest challenge for would-be first-time buyers.

Building societies have a strong track record of providing innovative solutions to support those taking their first step onto the property ladder and are responsible for around one-third of first-time buyer mortgage completions. However, whilst they have the capacity to lend more to first-time buyers, radical reform is needed to fix our broken housing market.

Action

With more than 2 million fewer owner-occupier mortgages since the peak in 2002, the BSA is calling on Government to commit to working with lenders, the wider housing market industry, and the public, with the sole aim of making homes more affordable, more available, and more appropriate to the needs of those living in them. We urgently need Government to commission an independent review to set out a long-term strategy that will increase the number of first-time buyers, both now and in the future, with a commitment that the findings will be published and implemented within 12 months. 

Alongside policy action, regulatory changes are needed particularly to support those on the fringes to buy their own home.

The pendulum, which since the financial crisis has swung towards a stricter regulatory environment rather than towards the social benefits of higher rates of homeownership, should be reviewed to increase the availability of 95% loan-to-value mortgages.

Other areas of regulation where more flexibility is required include the cap on high loan-to-income lending. A review of the pre and post-retirement mortgage market would also ensure lending regulations better reflect the increase in longer mortgage terms and the ageing population.

Commenting on the findings, Paul Broadhead, Head of Mortgage and Housing Policy at the BSA said:

“Becoming a first-time buyer is possibly the most expensive it has been over at least the last 70 years, but a properly functioning housing market is dependent on first-time buyers being able to afford their first home. Whilst building societies are creating bespoke, targeted innovations within the current regulatory framework, new thinking and radical changes are needed. 

“There is no silver bullet to increasing first-time homebuyers and it won’t be possible to help everyone who wants to become a homeowner in the current high price-to-income housing market. But there are many things that can help to fix the broken housing market. That starts with changes to regulations and support schemes that not only help today’s first-time buyers, but don’t fail future generations.” 

Age old problems, modern solutions: a roadmap for change report was supported by the five largest building societies: Nationwide, Coventry, Yorkshire, Skipton and Leeds.

Press contacts:

Tanya Jackson, tanya.jackson@bsa.org.uk Tel: 07881 501098

Katie Wise, katie.wise@bsa.org.uk Tel: 020 7520 5904

Debbie Enever, debbie.enever@bsa.org.uk Tel: 020 7520 5926

Notes to Editors:

1. The full report can be downloaded here and the executive summary here
2. The Building Societies Association (BSA) represents all 42 building societies, as well as 7 of the larger credit unions. Building societies serve around 26 million consumers across the UK and have total assets of over £507 billion. Together with their subsidiaries, they have helped over 3.5 million families and individuals to buy a home with mortgages totalling over £375 billion, representing 23% of total mortgage balances outstanding in the UK. They are also helping over 23 million people build their financial resilience, holding over £370 billion of retail savings, accounting for 19% of all cash savings in the UK.  Within this, societies account for 40% of all cash ISA balances.
3. With all of their headquarters outside London, building societies employ around 51,500 full and part-time staff.  In addition to digital services they operate through approximately 1,300 branches, holding a 28% share of branches across the UK.