Being a first-time buyer hasn’t been this tough for 70 years, a Building Societies Association (BSA) report has found. Many prospective homeowners feel trapped, with rents increasing by 9.2% on average in the 12 months to February 2024, making saving for a deposit seem impossible. The shortage of affordable housing pushing prices up makes it harder to get a foot on the ladder. For the past two years interest rates climbed steadily before sticking at the now 16-year high of 5.25%. Housing market headlines may not be helping either, with...