Property prices too high for graduates

University graduates are facing an increasingly difficult task in securing a foot on the property ladder, according to a new poll.

16:19 01 October 2004

University graduates are facing an increasingly difficult task in securing a foot on the property ladder, according to a new poll.

A survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of Scottish Widows found that almost two-thirds of graduates under the age of 30 are still not able to buy a house.

Indeed, a further ten per cent of those asked said they could not ever envisage themselves securing their own property, as a mixture of debt and soaring house prices take their toll.

A further 19 per cent of those questioned said they thought it would take up to ten years until they could get on the property ladder.

Fiona Hyslop, SNP education spokeswoman, told the Scotsman that the implications were enormous.

"Young people saddled with debt suffer individually but are also a drag on the economy. We have to make sure they are not burdened down with debt in the first place, which is why we would replace the student loan system with grants," she argued.

For its part the Scottish Executive says that ministers are seeking to ease the burden on students by increasing the salary threshold for repaying loans, but the problem appears unlikely to go away.