BUYING a house in parts of Dorset is as unaffordable for most earners as it is in parts of London, research has revealed.

Less than 10 per cent of people looking to buy a house on their own could do so in Purbeck – the same amount as in Richmond, Kensington and Chelsea and Camden Town.

The research was carried out by Savills and is based on the median income and the median property price.

Assuming a single earner was offered a mortgage of 4.5 times their income and had a 20 per cent deposit, researchers found the median house price of £250,000 in Purbeck is unaffordable for more than 90 per cent of people.

In West Dorset, just 14 per cent of single earner households could afford the average house at a price of £245,000.

Those living in Weymouth and Portland fare a little better, with 18 per cent of single earners being able to afford the average house price of £190,000.

One Dorchester resident, who didn't want to be named, said she managed to find her dream property in the county town - but only thanks to the shared ownership scheme.

She said: "A lot of people do not meet their partner until later in life now, and want to strike out and have their own independence. You don't have security if you're renting, and anyway everyone dreams of owning their own home.

"But the reality is on my income, I would not have been able to do that without it being shared ownership."

For households with two incomes, the area is more affordable – but still out of reach for more than half of residents.

The research revealed 42 per cent could afford a house in Purbeck, 46 per cent in West Dorset and 46 per cent in Weymouth and Portland.

The findings assumed a mortgage loan of 3.5 times the earners’ income and a deposit of 20 per cent.

Anthony Goss, co-owner of Bridport-based estate agents Etherington Goss, said the findings reflect what he has experienced.

“The reality is that it’s to do with supply and demand. We live in a nice area and lots of people want to live here – and that will push the prices up.

“But you also have to remember that a single person looking to buy a property on their own probably isn’t going to go for an average price, two- or three-bedroom terrace. They will be looking for an apartment, which will be below that average price and more affordable for more people.”

Cllr Kevin Brookes, briefholder for housing on Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, echoed Mr Goss' comments but added that the local authority and central government have roles to play.

"The government is proposing to push forward their plan of starter homes and we need to ensure developers are getting planning consent.

"It's a difficult subject to get to grips with, but unless we as a community, start to build more houses, it is a problem which will not go away."