THE second home crisis is keeping people out of the towns they grew up in.

Analysis by Nationwide Building Society ranked the most and least affordable local authority areas for first-time home buyers in Britain using an average house price-to-earnings ratio using figures from 2021.

Leader of South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) Councillor Jonathan Brook and Councillor Adrian Legge, Mayor of Windermere and Bowness, said they were not surprised by the data and that SLDC and Windermere and Bowness Town Council are actively working to ensure South Lakelanders are not priced out of the region.

Matt Kerslake said: "Charge full council tax on holiday homes and introduce an additional holiday home 'levy'. It's not exactly rocket science!"

Karen Shepherd said: "I'd love to come home, can't afford to live in my home town any more."

Jonny Clark said: "I am from Windermere and moving back up from down south, no chance of Windermere and be lucky to get Kendal.

"A lot of my mates are being pushed out of Windermere due to increasing number of Airbnb properties. A problem than needs sorting before it ends up as a town of no locals."

Karen Shepherd said: "Absolutely. I was born and brought up in Kendal, can't afford to live there anymore.

"Even the affordable housing isn't!"

Stephen Hewitt said: "Right across the county in particular, in the rural areas and small towns, we need a huge number of new social houses at a realistic rent.

"They must only be available for people born in the county or an identified specific need, ie emergency service staff, teachers.

"The properties could be built quickly and at a good cost, just use the same set up as Centre Parcs do for their bungalows - pre-created and built on site."

James McGregor said: "This is the biggest problem for first time buyers affordable housing. Me and my fiance want a place but the cost is too much."