"The Conservative Party have long been seen as the party of home ownership, but this poll clearly shows that is not the view of the growing number of under 35s who are locked out of owning their own home"
The poll, commissioned by the Land Promoters and Developers Federation, asked 1,885 people aged 35 and under in England their views on housing, home ownership and voting intentions, also revealed that 48% thought the Labour Party would be best at managing housing policy. Only 14% favoured the Conservative Party on this question. On this issue, only Conservative voters picked the Conservatives over Labour, according to LPDF.
At the same time, the results, produced by Stack Data Strategy, showed that 41% of Labour voters under 35 would be more inclined to vote Conservative if the party adopted policies to increase the affordability of housing.
Demonstrating housing’s apparent “cross-over appeal,” the poll revealed that 55% of young Conservative voters indicated they would be more likely to vote Labour if the party were to “adopt a clear drive to make housing more affordable for young people”.
More than 80% of those under 35 agreed that home supply needed to be increased to improve its affordability for the young generation.
LPDF’s poll also highlighted the impact that a lack of housing security can have on mental health. According to the results, 47% of respondents stated that uncertainty over whether or when they may be able to buy a home was affecting them mentally.
And on the impact on life decisions, 74% stated that the ability to own a home would affect their decision to move to a different part of the country or accept a job promotion. 73% said it would impact their decision to start a family.
The release of the poll results follows a local election which saw the Conservatives lose more than 1,000 seats and Labour gain more than 500.
The Conservative party’s planning reforms have proved controversial; LPDF said that 33 councils had halted or cut their housebuilding plans in the past two years due to the government’s plans, creating a shortfall of between 50,000 and 100,000 new homes in England over the next five years. This is according to a report prepared by Lichfields for the LPDF and the Home Builders Federation in February.
Paul Brocklehurst, LPDF’s chairman, said: “The Conservative Party have long been seen as the party of home ownership, but this poll clearly shows that is not the view of the growing number of under 35s who are locked out of owning their own home.
"Housing is a big issue for this increasingly priced out generation and an issue that could deliver more votes at the ballot box for both main parties.”
