The HomeOwner Survey 2018 - Issue, trends and how we feel about our homes

10 Less serious issues for aspiring homeowners include stamp duty and the ability to get a mortgage or remortgage.  Down 4% in the past year, 71% of aspiring homeowners say getting a mortgage is a problem (down from 78% in 2015).  Stamp duty has also receded as an issue for aspiring first-time buyers; down 4% over the past year. Now 38% of aspiring homeowners say stamp duty is a serious problem down from 42% in 2017 and down significantly over the past five years from 59% in 2014.  Other issues less of a concern than a year ago among aspiring first-time buyers include: availability of housing for over 60s (-5%), gazundering (-4%), negative equity (-4%), homebuying/ selling process (-3%), property/ solicitor fees (-3%). Regional Look at Housing Concerns Those in London are feeling the impact of the crisis harder than most.  House prices, the availability and quality of homes, the leasehold/ freehold system, being able to move up the ladder, stamp duty, the home buying/ selling process and gazumping all register higher levels of concern in London than they do nationally. o 90% of Londoners up from 84% in 2014 say house prices are a serious problem. o 84% in London up from 78% in 2014 say housing availability is a serious problem. o 66% of Londoners up from 56% in 2014 say quality of housing is a serious problem. Negative equity concern is higher in Northern Ireland (66%), the North East (49%), the North West (48%) and Scotland (48%) than UK level overall. Availability of housing for those over age 60 is a bigger issue in Northern Ireland (58%) than UK overall (43%) and less so in South West (37%) and Scotland (38%). Leasehold/ freehold system is of greater concern to Londoners (69%) and is less likely to be seen as a serious issue in Scotland (38%) and Northern Ireland (41%).