Opinion — It’s time we stopped lying about the housing crisis

Gen Z and Millennials are continuously told that buying a house is as simple as saving money. But this out-of-touch approach needs the boot.

Everywhere you look, statistics about the housing market are as dire as the next. Between a cost-of-living crisis and the economic vestiges of a pandemic, the concept of purchasing a property for the first time feels almost impossible. Particularly for those under the age of 40.

But despite this harsh reality, a large portion of the older generation — specifically those in high-paying, influential jobs — are constantly telling Gen Z and Millennials that buying a house is a simple as putting in the effort.

This week, during a BBC radio interview, NatWest chair Howard Davies reinforced these harmful misconceptions.

Davies, who earns over £700k a year, told listeners it ‘wasn’t that hard’ to buy a house in today’s economy.

His assertion that buying a house was just a simple case of self-discipline sparked outrage online, and rightfully so.