First Time Buyers Blame Immigration For High Property Prices

A new survey of homebuyers reveals that new arrivals from abroad came second only to property investors as being blamed by first time buyers for fuelling the market.One in five of those polled feel that greater controls on immigration in Britain is the best option open to the government in reining in house price growth.

Website Propertyfinder, which conducted the poll, says 21 per cent of respondents want to see immigration levels better regulated.A further 15 per cent directly blame immigrants for pushing up prices, while 16 per cent level the same accusation at property developers.

The property site's chief executive Warren Bright says the survey has revealed great misunderstanding among the UK public over the root cause of the British housing boom, with just six per cent of people pinning the blame on stable low interest rates and inflation.

"Ten years of low interest rates have brought about Britain's high house prices, but this is poorly understood by most people," Mr Bright said...."Immigrants and property investors make high profile scapegoats but are simply too small in number to be responsible," he continued.