SMALL PARTYHousing affordability in England and Wales: 2023
Supported claim: Housing affordability is a material problem: in 2023, a home in England cost 8.3 times average full-time annual earnings.
high confidence
Summary and intended outcome
Build more homes that people can afford, in places connected to work and services.
Uncertainty: high confidence. The median ratio describes England overall and does not represent every household or local market.
Why? Evidence for this claim
- Source
- Housing affordability in England and Wales: 2023, Office for National Statistics
- Method
- ONS compares house-price statistics with annual earnings from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings; this record uses its median affordability ratio.
- Assumptions
- The median ratio describes England overall and does not represent every household or local market.
- Full-time workplace earnings are an appropriate high-level comparator for purchase affordability.
- Confidence
- high
Problem and baseline
Unknown. The source document does not state a problem or baseline.
Proposed action
Simplify predictable planning, enable appropriate density and infrastructure, and preserve genuinely exceptional heritage. Detailed proposals must identify effects on renters, owners, councils and public finances.
Why this approach
Unknown. The source document states a direction but does not explain why this approach was chosen.
Cost, saving, revenue and funding
Cost
Unknown. No supported figure has been published in the source policy document.
Saving
Unknown. No supported figure has been published in the source policy document.
Revenue
Unknown. No supported figure has been published in the source policy document.
Funding
Unknown. No funding source has been specified.
Trade-offs, risks and affected groups
Trade-offs and risks
Unknown. Trade-offs and risks have not yet been assessed.
Affected groups
Unknown. Affected groups have not yet been recorded.
Evidence, method, assumptions and publication date
Publication date
Unknown. No publication date appears in the source document.
Small Test assessment
This assessment presents reasoning, not a score or objective judgement.
Does it increase freedom?
Incomplete
Assessment incomplete.
The source policy document does not yet provide an assessment or rationale.
Is government actually needed?
Incomplete
Assessment incomplete.
The source policy document does not yet provide an assessment or rationale.
Can we afford it?
Incomplete
Assessment incomplete.
The source policy document does not yet provide an assessment or rationale.
Does it reduce concentrated power?
Incomplete
Assessment incomplete.
The source policy document does not yet provide an assessment or rationale.
Can we measure whether it works?
Incomplete
Assessment incomplete.
The source policy document does not yet provide an assessment or rationale.
Measures, review date and correction history
Measures
Unknown. No measurable outcomes have yet been defined.
Review date
Unknown. No review date has been set.
Publication and correction history
- — Publication update: Converted the source policy document into the structured public record; no material claims changed.