editor posted on November 01, 2011 02:16
Family life is under threat because so many people are having to live in the private rented sector – where there is an inadequate supply of stock suitable for families.
As a result, younger people are putting off having children and forming households, because they can neither afford to buy their own homes or find somewhere suitable to rent.
Yolande Barnes, director of residential research at Savills, told the Council of Mortgage Lenders conference, Future Housing, that a falling birth rate could be a consequence.
She said properties in the private rented sector were geared towards providing apartments for single and childless people and she warned of “serious social implications”.
She said: “There comes a point when households stop forming, when there isn’t a property to move in to. We face a real danger in this country of a falling birth rate.”
She said there was scope for investors to expand into family accommodation.
Rob Wellstead of Lenwell said: “Whilst I cannot comment on the possible effects on the birth rate, there is no doubt that there is an increasing requirement for family orientated property in the private rental sector.”