Two thirds of young parents in Bradford cannot afford to buy a family home in the area.

Analysis by a Government housing advisory body revealed just 31.9 per cent of families under 40 were able to afford a three-bedroom house.

The study, Housing Affordability: A Fuller Picture, and Evaluating Requirements for Market and Affordable Housing, was carried out by the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU).

It found only 26.1 per cent of families under 40 could afford to buy a three-bedroom house in England in 2008 – an increase of 2.6 per cent on 2007.

The number affording to buy in Bradford also increased from 29.2 per cent.

The situation is better than in Leeds where only 26.3 per cent can afford to buy and 29.3 per cent in Kirklees. More young families in Wakefield own a property at 38.2 per cent and 36.2 per cent in Calderdale.

Across Yorkshire and Humber just 33 per cent of young families could afford to get on the housing ladder. In London the figure is less than ten per cent. The East Midlands was most affordable, with 35 per cent able to get on the ladder.

Typical first-time buyers have seen average deposits soar from 16 per cent of annual income in 2000 to 64 per cent in 2009, according the NHPAU.

In addition, affordability worsened last year as mortgage lenders reduced loan-to-value ratios – the amount they were prepared to lend in relation to the value of a property.

The study concluded: “During the past decade there has been a deterioration in the affordability of home ownership.”

Housing charity Shelter said: “The shocking figures reinforce the true extent to which housing has become completely unaffordable for most ordinary people. One in five young people still live with their parents, 1.5 million grandparents say they are missing out on helping take care of their grandchildren and almost 2.5 million people actively put off having children, all because of high housing costs.”

However, the Department for Communities and Local Government said its commitment to supporting first-time buyers was demonstrated by moves to increase opportunities for families to buy a share of a home where they could not afford the full cost.

A spokesman said: “Our schemes are now open to households earning up to £60,000 who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to buy, and the funding we have put in place will result in 13,000 new homes being built for those aspiring to get on the housing ladder.”

It comes as rents in Yorkshire and Humber rose by 0.9 per cent to 535pcm in February but is still down 10.1 per cent on the same time last year.