Waiters, cleaners and fitness instructors will need to save for more than a century to save a deposit for a house in the UK, data reveals

Meet the workers who would have to save for 100 years to buy a home

How many years do you think it will take to save up a deposit for a house? Two, five, 10? In the current housing crisis many people struggle to get on the property ladder, but according to a new report by online estate agents House Simple, these figures are way out.

According to the data, some workers will need to save for more than 100 years to buy the average first-time home in the UK (with a mortgage, of course). Among those who would have to save for over a lifetime to afford a home are waiters, cleaners, florists, cooks, fitness instructors and carers. Here’s the data in full:

We spoke to three workers whose jobs were included as part of the 100-year club.

Megan Paper, beautician, Swindon

It’s depressing, isn’t it? My boyfriend and I have been looking for a house recently, and we simply can’t afford to get a mortgage. Most beauticians I know can only afford to rent. This didn’t used to be the case – house prices are rising faster than wages – so now you don’t get a lot for your money.

When I first started out I was working 12-hour days. It’s a physical job and I was constantly exhausted. It was awful – you’re working hard doing these long hours but then you don’t get any benefit from it, as the pay is so low.

I’ve now decided to become self-employed in order to try to run my own company, but it could take anything from a year to 10 years to get the clientele and build up my income.

Abigail Forrester, nanny, Leeds

There is no way this wage can sustain me. I’m trying to save up to get a house, and would ideally like to own my own property in a couple of years, but that’s just not possible.



Eventually I will have to move on from this work, which is a shame. As a nanny you can’t really progress – there’s no way to show your improvement or hit targets and it can be difficult to ask the families for more money. It’s a personal relationship, not just a professional one.



I really do enjoy my job, I love seeing the children develop and it’s incredibly fulfilling seeing their knowledge and speech improve while you look after them. I can’t think of a job where I’d be happier.

If it was just about job satisfaction I would stay in this job for the rest of my life.

Will Pike, personal trainer, London

I would love to buy a house in London, but it’s so expensive. Even with me and my partner working full-time we can’t afford to buy.



It would actually work out cheaper for us to buy a house on the continent and then commute into London a few days a month. There are so many remote tools, like Skype, that most work can be done remotely once you have a client base.

So that’s the plan – to eventually rent or buy somewhere abroad. We can’t afford the lifestyle we want here. The UK is simply pushing us out because of the cost.

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