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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Joanna Partridge

Young first-time buyers face toughest time since financial crisis, says UK housebuilder

A home under construction in Lancaster
The boss of Barratt Redrow says higher levels of student loan repayments are making it harder for younger people to get a mortgage. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

The boss of Britain’s largest housebuilder has said it is the most challenging time to be a first-time buyer since the financial crisis, as the dream of home ownership moves increasingly out of reach for many young people.

A combination of rising interest rates, higher levels of student debt and the squeeze on wages is making it “challenging, very, very difficult” for young people to get on the housing ladder, according to David Thomas, the departing chief executive of Barratt Redrow.

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