'Buying a house here is practically impossible'

Tattoo studio owner, Lisa Harding Mottley describes trying to buy a house in York as "daunting"

York has some of the highest property prices in Yorkshire and the Humber with the average cost of a home hitting £328,000 in August, but what does that mean for people desperate for a home of their own in the city?

"My friends are here, my life is here," said Lisa Harding-Mottley

She owns a tattoo studio in York, but commutes from Market Weighton each day - a 20 mile (32km) journey.

"I work six days a week, I am literally just driving [home] to have somewhere to sleep. Your life changes when you live near your work."

She describes her commute as "tiresome" and would love to be able to live near her work, but said for a first time buyer York is a "very daunting prospect".

Even her deposit would need to be larger to take account of the higher property prices.

Originally from Hull, Ms Harding-Mottley would like a semi-detached two bedroom property with a garden for her and her wife and their dachshund Audrey.

All she can afford though is a one bedroom flat in the city with no outdoor space.

"There's no point in looking in York," she said.

Ms Harding-Mottley said her choices were either waiting to perhaps inherit from family members or hoping her current home in Market Weighton gains enough value to help towards the cost of a move to York.

She is not alone in finding the market in York to be difficult.

The Office for National Statistics figures suggest the average house price in York was £328,000 in August, compared with an average price for the Yorkshire and The Humber region of £219,000.

This meant that, in August 2024, York had the highest average house price in the region.

Hairdresser Chris Wood cannot buy a house in York but also faces problems with the cost of business premises

Hairdresser Chris Wood travels in from Boroughbridge, about 20 miles (32km), and has been looking to to move to the city for several years but said it had been "very frustrating" and "practically impossible".

“It takes me an hour to commute and the traffic in and around York is an absolute nightmare on a morning so it [moving to York] would make a big difference taking time off the working day," he said.

Mr Wood said he believes property developers have failed to deliver affordable housing in the city and points a finger at the number of people purchasing a second home in the city as a rental investment.

“Nothing ever seems to be for local people around here.”

Mr Wood added that he has also received news that he has to move out of his business property after eight years and is struggling to find an affordable new location in the city.

Simon Cartwright from Indigo Green Estate Agents says there are a number of variables that contribute to the figures

Simon Cartwright, co-director of Indigo Green Estate Agents, acknowledges the market has been impacted by investors.

“It cannot be ignored that there has been an increase in terms of the Airbnb rentals in the York market, but at the same time we’ve always had investors buying in York from outside of the city and from outside of the country, it’s not different.”

He said the reality was that York was a "very sought-after place" which meant demand for homes was high and people would need a larger mortgage or deposit.

Mr Cartwright said it was the "new normal".

“I think there is an expectation especially when younger people hear about interest rates coming down is that the rates will come down to figures that we’ve seen over the the last fifteen years which is not the case."

The rising cost of owning a home in York, is not news to the councillor responsible for housing and planning.

Michael Pavlovic spoke of the difficulties facing residents who were being priced out of the city in March.

He said the Labour-run council did expect "to see over a 1,000 new homes delivered each year" following the approval of its local devemopent plan.

He said that should "help stabilise housing costs".

The council has also approved the introduction of a 200% council tax charge on second homes.

Pavlovic believes the new government will deliver on housing policy.

"We now have a Government serious about building new homes and that provides hope," he said.

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