4 in 10 Londoners consider leaving due to cost of living

  • London
Nearly half of young Londoners have thought of leaving the capital Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

A new ITV News/ComRes poll for ITV London's week of special coverage on housing in the capital asked Londoners four questions about housing.

The results revealed that 4 in 10 Londoners consider leaving the capital because of the cost of living here, while three quarters think it is a bad thing for London that house prices are rising faster here than anywhere else.

Only 16% thought house prices rising faster than anywhere else was a good thing Credit: Yui Mok/PA Archive

RISING HOUSE PRICES:

The poll revealed 73% of Londoners think that house prices rising faster in London than anywhere else is a bad thing. Only 16% thought it was a good thing, while 11% said they didn't know.

Around half of young Londoners have thought about leaving the capital Credit: Marco Hadem/DPA

LEAVING LONDON:

Around four in ten (38%) Londoners say they have seriously thought about moving out of London because of the cost of living in the capital, while 57% have not seriously thought about it.

There are clear differences by age, with just 13% of those aged 65+ saying they have seriously thought about leaving London because of the cost of living compared to around half (47%) of young Londoners aged 18-34.

Those in central London appear particularly likely to have considered leaving the capital, 47% say they considered it.

14% blame the coalition government for the housing crisis Credit: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

BLAME FOR HOUSING CRISIS:

Rich foreigners buying housing in London are blamed more than anything else for the housing crisis in London. Three in ten (31%) Londoners think rich foreigners buying housing in London are mostly responsible for the crisis, followed by 23% blaming high rates of immigration.The Coalition Government is thought to be most responsible by 14%, while one in ten (10%) hold London’s local councils most responsible. Mayor Boris Johnson is held mostly responsible by 4% while his predecessor Ken Livingstone is blamed by 2%.

41% think building more homes in London would be the most effective way of dealing with housing shortage Credit: Ian Nicholson/PA Archive

EASING THE HOUSING SHORTAGE:

Londoners are split on the most effective way of easing London’s current housing situation.

41% think building more homes in London itself would be the most effective, while 39% think developing commuter towns outside London would be best.

Men are more likely than women to think building more homes in London is the most effective way of easing London’s current housing situation (48% and 35% respectively). Women in turn are more likely than men to think developing commuter towns outside of London is most effective (41% and 36% respectively).

METHODOLOGY:

ComRes interviewed 1,019 London adults online between 10th and 16th March 2014. Data were weighted to be demographically representative of all London adults aged 18+. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.