The CIH/Ipsos MORI poll questioned adults aged 16-75 online across Great Britain. Twenty per cent agree they might have to leave their local area in the future because the cost of housing is too high.
Young people are particularly pessimistic, with more than a third (36 per cent) of 16-24-year-olds and a quarter (26 per cent) of 25-34-year-olds agreeing that they might have to move. Half (52 per cent) of 16-24-year-olds say that rising house prices would be a very or fairly bad thing for them personally, compared with 32 per cent across Great Britain as a whole.
The survey also showed that 60 per cent of Britons believe it is harder for them to buy or rent a home than it was for their parent's generation when they were the same age while 75 per cent believe it will be harder for the children of today to buy or rent a home than it is for them.
A third (32 per cent) say their housing costs are causing them a great deal or fair amount of stress.
A quarter (24 per cent) of people - and a third (32 per cent) of 16-24-year-olds - are concerned about being able to pay the rent or mortgage right now, while 29 per cent of Britons are concerned about being able to meet their monthly payments in 12 months' time.
CIH released the figures ahead of Housing 2014, its annual conference and exhibition, which takes place at Manchester Central from 24-26 June.
Chief executive Grainia Long said: "These figures are further confirmation that our housing crisis is causing misery for millions of people across Great Britain and fuelling fears for the future - particularly among younger people. We must take action now for the sake of future generations.
Our survey showed that four in ten people (40 per cent) would support more homes being built in their local area. We think they are absolutely right - to have any hope of tackling our housing crisis we must drastically increase the number of new homes we build across all tenures."
The statistics for the private rented sector paint a more concerning picture as thirty-nine per cent of those living in private rented homes feel high housing costs may force them out of their local area in the future.
The survey also found that four in ten private renters (40 per cent) are concerned about being able to pay the rent right now (Great Britain average: 24 per cent) while 43 per cent are concerned they won’t be able to meet their monthly payments in 12 months’ time (GB average: 29 per cent).
Half (48 per cent) say concerns about their housing costs are causing them a great deal or fair amount of stress (GB average: 32 per cent) and two-thirds (65 per cent) say the cost of housing limits the amount they have to spend on other things either a great deal or a fair amount (GB average: 49 per cent).
Almost three quarters (72 per cent) of private renters agree it is harder for them to buy or rent a home than it was for their parent’s generation when they were the same age (GB average: 60 per cent)
The survey also showed that people living in the private rented sector are more unhappy with their homes than the average person in Great Britain. Eighteen per cent say they are very or fairly dissatisfied with their home (GB average: 12 per cent), 19 per cent say it is in poor condition (GB average: 11 per cent), 26 per cent say their home is too expensive (GB average: 10 per cent) and 29 per cent say it is too small or lacks space (GB average: 19 per cent).
Ms Long said the housing crisis is really “taking its toll on people living in private rented homes”.
“It is deeply disturbing that more than a third of private renters think they might have to leave their local area because the cost of housing is too high. The fact that 43 per cent are concerned they won’t be able to pay their rent next year – and four in ten are already struggling – is also extremely worrying.
Our survey showed that half of private renters (51 per cent) would support more homes being built in their local area. We think they are absolutely right – to have any hope of tackling our housing crisis we must drastically increase the number of new homes we build across all tenures.
It also showed that people who live in private rented homes have a particular concern about standards. With more and more people living in the private rented sector – including more older people, more families with children and more vulnerable people from the housing waiting list – it’s vital that we look carefully at new ways to raise standards and make sure it is working better for its residents than it is right now.”
She added: “With the general election approaching, our survey also showed that all parties must do much more to convince people living in private rented homes that they can address this issue. When asked which party has the best policies on housing, 56 per cent say ‘none’ or ‘don’t know’, while 40 per cent don’t think that political parties pay a lot of attention to housing.
Now is the time for action – we’re challenging all parties put tackling the housing crisis front and centre in their manifestos.”
