A report commissioned by the National Housing Federation has warned that the housing market is in crisis with millions stuck on housing waiting lists, private rents soaring and owner occupation rates in decline.

The Federation's warning that the housing market is in crisis dominated the domestic news agenda for a day, allowing the Federation to raise the contribution of housing associations and kick-start a debate on the housing crisis and how it should be tackled.

The Guardian, commenting on the report, said: "Britain isn't building - and then sends shivers down coalition spines," while The Times remarked: "The NHF's warning that a generation will be excluded from home ownership has — at last —made housing a subject that will preoccupy politicians for the rest of this parliamentary term."

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The Federation warned the housing market will be plunged into an unprecedented crisis as it forecast steep rises in the private rental sector, huge social housing waiting lists, and a house price boom – all fuelled by a chronic under-supply of homes.

At the heart of the problem remains a chronic under-supply of new homes. In 2010/11 just 105,000 homes were built in England – the lowest level since the 1920s.

More government investment in affordable housing would stimulate a wider, faster economic recovery and help fix our broken housing markets, according to the Federation.

It is calling for suitable surplus public land to be made available for the building of affordable homes, for local authorities to regularly assess housing need and for ministers to make a renewed commitment to building the homes the country needs.

(CD/GK)