Wishaw MP warns those living in constituency face being priced out of housing market

dailyrecord.co.uk:

People in the Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke constituency are being ‘priced out’ of the housing market according to the area’s MP.The most recent Scottish Household Survey has revealed a sharp rise in the proportion of Scots unable to move to their accommodation of choice because they can’t afford the rent or mortgage.In 2019, just 13 per cent of respondents said being unable to afford the rent or mortgage was a barrier to moving, but by 2023 this figure had jumped to 24 per cent.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android In North Lanarkshire, renters faced inflation-busting increases between 2023 and 2024, with average rents for a two-bed property rising by 8.2 per cent.Similarly, house prices in the area rose sharply, increasing by £9,869 between 2023 and 2024.In South Lanarkshire, the increases are 6.1 per cent and £11,385 respectively.Pamela Nash, MP for Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke, said too many people locally are stuck in unsuitable housing and home ownership was becoming a ‘distant dream’ for a generation.She said: “Every week I hear from more and more people in our communities who are being priced out of accommodation and forced to live somewhere unsuitable because they simply cannot afford to move.“Home ownership is becoming a distant dream for a generation of young people, while renters are