Martin Whitfield MSP has warned that people in East Lothian and other parts of South Scotland are being “priced out” of the housing market as one in four Scots say they cannot afford to move.

The most recent Scottish Household Survey has revealed a sharp rise in the proportion of Scots unable to move to their accommodation of choice because they cannot afford the rent or mortgage.

In 2019, just 13 per cent of respondents said being unable to afford the rent or mortgage was a barrier to moving, but by 2023 this figure had jumped to 24 per cent.

In East Lothian, rising rent and house prices have piled pressure on people, with the county now having the second highest average house prices behind Edinburgh.

Across the Lothian area, renters faced inflation-busting increases between 2023 and 2024, with average rents for a 2 bed property rising by 14 percent.

Similarly, house prices in East Lothian rose sharply, increasing by £20,748 between 2023 and 2024.

Mr Whitfield believes that too many people locally are stuck in unsuitable housing and home ownership was becoming a “distant dream” for a generation. He is backing calls for action to tackle the housing emergency and boost housebuilding.

Commenting, Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“Under the current Scottish Government, East Lothian and other areas of South Scotland have fallen into a devastating housing emergency.

“More and more people in our community are being priced out of accommodation and forced to live somewhere unsuitable because they simply cannot afford to move.

“With house prices rising by over £20,000 in a single year, home ownership is becoming a distant dream for a generation of young people, while renters are dealing with inflation-busting rent hikes of up to 14%.

“It’s time for Ministers to wake up to the scale of this crisis and set out a real plan to make sure people in East Lothian have the safe, secure home they deserve.

“From reforming planning to boosting housebuilding to supporting renters, the Scottish Government must set out a real plan to make sure housing is affordable.”