The situation has become extra-bad only in the last 2-3 years, but there are plenty of people that bought before 2012 across a wide variety of occupation. Especially zone 3 and up: 3 year ago a 3 bed house could be acquired for 180K GBP in ok-area zone 3 - not cheap, but not outrageously expensive for a couple - same house goes for over 400K GBP today.<p>Nowadays, there are still a lot of part-buy&#x2F;part-rent scheme being built all over zone 2. Sure you only buy 25% to 50% share, but the flat under those scheme have very conservative estimation and rock bottom rental price ( for the other 50 - 75 % ) There are even better deals for key workers ( nurses, teacher, police officer, ... ) So strangely that is easier for a couple of nurse and teacher to get on the property ladder in London than for 2 reasonably paid city workers or said differently basically if you don&#x27;t qualify for government benefit you must be real rich to afford London.<p>I agree with you, when a couple making 100K GBP would require social benefit to afford a modest 2 bed in the cheapest area your city, your housing market is fucked.