Buyers turn to commuter towns

Homebuyers in the UK are increasingly buying properties in commuter towns just outside of London.

That is according to the National Housing Federation (NHF), which says that house prices in the capital are simply too expensive for first time buyers (FTBs), forcing more people out of the city.

The NHF says that more affordable homes need to be built in London in order to attract buyers back to the capital.

"For a lot of people it isn't actually a choice [to move to commuter towns]; a lot of people would prefer to remain in the city, but actually find themselves forced to a commuter town because it's simply not affordable to live in London anymore," said a spokesman for the organisation.

"While we definitely need more homes in and around these commuter towns, we also need to build many more homes of all types - not just one and two bed flats, but all sizes of home - actually within London itself," he added.

The latest house price index from the Department of Communities and Local Government revealed that the average London house price was £342,319 in September.

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