Housing charity Shelter has revealed that it will take the average family 14 years to save up for a house in Kingston, writes Ellie Chambers.

According to Shelter it will take a single person even longer, with the average person saving alone taking 20.3 years to save up for the deposit on a house in the area.

The research by Shelter said that couples without a child face an average of 6 and a half years of saving, and over a decade if they live in London.

Adam Terry, Shelter campaigns officer, said: “You are looking at people who are working hard and trying to save what they can, but wages are not really rising and house prices are.”

The study also said that the number of affordable homes built in 2012/13 was down by 29 per cent from the 2011/12, pushing house prices up.

Mr Terry said: “Do you decide that you want to own your own house and delay starting a family, or do you start a family in which case your child will be at secondary school before you stop renting?

“Unless the government takes some action then, unfortunately, the outlook is bleak.”