The severity of Kent's housing shortage has been revealed by new research carried out by a homeless charity.

Both Tonbridge and Malling and Gravesham districts have no affordable homes at all for families looking to get on the housing ladder, placing them among the least-affordable places in the UK.

The picture is not much better in other parts of west Kent - both Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks have just one affordable home each.

The research, carried out by Shelter, bases affordability on how much an average first time buying family could borrow, based on data published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

This threshold represents the highest price the household would be able to pay towards a property, assuming they have the average deposit of 17%.

For families, only properties with at least two bedrooms were included.

The average price for a terraced house in Tonbridge is £281,551, meaning a family with an average deposit of 17% - £47,863 - would have to be able borrow £233,688.

The pattern is repeated across the south east.

Shelter's research revealed only 4% of homes for sale in the region are affordable for families that need at least two bedrooms, and less than 1% are affordable for larger families looking for homes with three bedrooms or more.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said the housing shortage had left many families forced to rent.

“Decades of failing to deliver the homes we need is leaving millions trapped in expensive and unstable private renting, or in their childhood bedrooms, with barely a hope of saving for a home of their own.

"It’s no wonder that a week out from election day, affordable housing is a key concern for those heading to the polling booths.

"For the next government, whoever that may be, it’s time for the talk to stop and the work to begin.

"Politicians need to act swiftly to deliver the plan that will build the 250,000 homes a year we need, or millions more people will be forced to kiss their dreams of a stable and affordable place to live goodbye.”

The situation in Medway and east Kent is less severe, and both Thanet and Dover districts have more than 100 affordable homes available.

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