Long-term social problems will be caused by the inability of young people to get a foot on the property ladder, a report has claimed.

The survey, commissioned by North East house builders Barratt warns of growing tensions between the generations and an increasing sense of resentment from young people towards the housing wealth acquired by those aged over 40 when housing was more affordable.

The new findings, published in the second annual Barratt HomeBuyer's Panel, suggest that limiting the ability of young people to buy their first home will cause 'intergenerational tension' and long-term social problems.

Young people being priced out of the market means many are delaying important life decisions such as marriage and starting a family, as they want the security of owning a home before such events.

The Barratt research, compiled with independent polling firm ComRes, shows that 44 per cent of people aged between 18-29 thought the over-40s housing wealth was 'unfair'.

In contrast only 10 per cent of respondents aged between 45 and 65 agreed.

Almost two thirds, 65 per cent of those under 30, believe they cannot afford to buy a home as large as the one that their parents lived in at the same age.

The Barratt research suggests 90 per cent of young people were more opposed than any other age group to adopting a European model of tenure, where many families rent for the duration of their adult lives.

The panel showed that 64 per cent of those under 30 said that they would not be happy to start a family while they were renting and 43 per cent would not be happy to get married until they owned a home.

Mark Clare, chief executive of Barratt Developments said: "The findings from this nationwide poll illustrate the extent of the housing crisis facing Britain and the depth of the public policy challenges we now have to tackle as a result.

"Signs of friction between the generations are now starting to emerge as a direct consequence of relative housing wealth.

"Significant numbers of people, especially those under the age of 30, appear to be delaying key life decisions such as starting a family because they cannot take that all important first step on the property ladder."

And MPs in the North-East, where there is the highest youth unemployment, seized on the report to urge banks to free up cash for people wanting to buy their own home.

Dave Anderson, MP for Blaydon, said: "Banks need to get their fingers out. They need to be lending people money. In the same way that we looked after them when times were hard, they need to start thinking of others too."