The property ladder is a metaphor synonymous in the UK for a person’s desire to progress through the various stages of homeownership. 

Whether it’s due to a shortage of affordable homes, salaries outstripping house prices, or even the heavier tax burdens facing Britain’s younger generation, making that first step onto the property ladder has arguably never been harder than it is today. 

In this in-depth feature, Chris Lomas explores the true depth of the housing crisis in the UK, its impact on a short-changed generation, and the scale of challenges the government faces in fixing the housing ladder.