Housing affordability a big concern for voters, survey finds

Housing affordability has become a hot-button issue this federal election, a new poll has found.

A survey by Royal Lepage, released earlier this week, found 84 per cent of respondents nationally are concerned a growing number of Canadians will never be able to afford a home.

What's more, a survey found housing affordability platforms of candidates in the upcoming federal election on Sept. 20 will influence how they vote.

Among all respondents, 40 per cent indicated affordable housing is a key issue, a figure that increased to 57 per cent among younger adult Canadians.

In Alberta, 46 per cent said a candidate's policy on housing affordability would impact how they vote.

The study also found Albertans, 83 per cent, were very worried about home ownership becoming unaffordable.

Younger adult Canadians overall saw this as a big worry with 88 per cent of those ages 18 to 34 concerned they will never be able to afford a home.

The survey of more than 1,500 respondents also revealed that among Canadians indicating housing is a key election issue, 96 per cent were worried about people never being able to afford a home. For those noting it was not an election issue, 74 per cent were concerned home ownership could become unaffordable.

Overall, respondents who owned a home already were equally concerned as renters about whether Canadians could afford a home in the future at 84 per cent.

Yet only 35 per cent noted housing policy would affect how they vote compared with 48 per cent of those who are renting.