Virtually everyone (96 per cent) believes that the UK has housing problems, according to new research undertaken for the Council of Mortgage Lenders by YouGov, and outlined at the CML’s “Future Housing” conference by CML chief economist Bob Pannell.

The biggest problem is seen as the fact that young people cannot afford to buy, or take on too much debt to do so, cited by 80 per cent of respondents.

Too many people on housing waiting lists (48 per cent), housing market boom and bust (44 per cent), the cost of moving house (37 per cent), and the lack of supply of new homes (35 per cent) were also seen as problems – but each of these was cited by fewer than 50 per cent of respondents, paling by comparison with the perceived plight of young would-be first-time buyers.

Yet consumers appear sceptical about whether the government can make a difference. While 15 per cent thought it likely or very likely that the government could improve first-time buyer affordability over the next five years, 80 per cent thought it unlikely or very unlikely.

Indeed, there was a high degree of scepticism about the likelihood of the government alleviating any of the problems identified. In every case, the proportion of people who felt help was unlikely exceeded the proportion who felt it was likely. However, the balance of opinion was less negative about the likelihood of government addressing energy efficiency (-2 per cent), the size of new homes (-10 per cent), and the prospect of some social tenants transitioning to the private sector (-14 per cent).