Homes known as social rent homes, or homes which are funded by the UK government, fell in a significant number last year and totaled 10,000 less than the year prior. This reduction in the number of social rent homes is impacting the number of homes which are affordable and thus creating a larger gap of those under 50 who cannot afford the housing and those over 50 who can.

Rents are capped at a certain amount for social rent houses and recent research indicated a 70% reduction of these types of homes entered the market during the 2014-2015 calendar year. This reduction was offset however by the addition of 40,000 houses labeled affordable rent houses. Although these houses benefit some in need, they carry a price tag of up to 80% market price. This is much higher compared with the cost of social housing.

The impact of housing cost has segregated the population, according to a report from Intergenerational Foundation. The report includes data stating the number of neighborhoods comprising half populations of people over the age of 50 has now increased by a factor of seven. In 1991 there were 65 compared with more than 480 in the year 2014.

The IF co-founder, Angus Hanton, commented on the latest data to surface, saying: “Just 5% of the people living in the same neighbourhood as someone under 18 are over 65, compared with 15% in 1991. This is hugely damaging to intergenerational relations. It weakens the bonds between the generations and leads to a lack of understanding of, and empathy for, other generations.”

Hanton added: “We believe that the housing crisis is driving this trend, with older generations enjoying either rural or leafier suburban living, while young people are concentrated in rental properties in the centre of towns and cities.”