It is taking more than 11 years across the UK for first-time buyers (FTBs) to save for a 15% deposit, research from Pepper Money reveals.

Using data from the UK Land Registry and ONS median salary figures, Pepper Money says if the average property value in 2025 is £269,735 and the median salary is £35,464, a FTB saving 10% of their annual income would need more than 11 years to save a 15% deposit.

The lender explains that the widening gap between wages and house prices highlights just how challenging it has become for many to step onto the property ladder, even for disciplined savers.

Some of the more difficult areas where it could take decades to save for a deposit include Windsor. With a median salary of £39,832 and an average house price of £586,184, buyers face 22 years of saving.

Close behind are North West hotspots, Altrincham (21 years) and Wilmslow (20 years).

The research shows that the remainder of the top 10 is dominated by locations in the South of England, where high property prices continue to outpace salaries.

At the other end of the spectrum, Paisley, North Lanarkshire, and Cumbernauld top the list of easiest places to save, each requiring only six years on average.

The only English town to make this group is Blackpool, where lower property prices (average £130,280) and a median salary of £31,089 mean buyers could save a deposit in just six years.

In many mid-priced areas, FTBs can expect a saving period of around 12 to 15 years. While Stockport sits on the higher end of North West saving times, it’s only slightly above the UK average.

London commuter towns like Reading, Luton, and Basingstoke provide a more achievable route onto the property ladder for London workers.

Pepper Money explains, saving for a deposit in these areas can take almost half the time compared to central London because of the lower property prices.