The cost of becoming a home buyer in the UK worsened by some 350 per cent since 1996, according to a study by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics).

An accessibility index developed by Rics indicated that the 350 per cent mark was reached following an 8.4 per cent deterioration in the cost of becoming a home purchaser this year.

In order to accumulate the £25,600 needed for upfront buying costs on an average home, a first-time buyer couple both earning lower quartile wages will now have to save the equivalent of 96 per cent of their joint take home pay.

Some 21 per cent of earnings needed to be saved in 1996.

Rics senior economist, David Stubbs, commented: "First time buyers are facing an enormous struggle to access the housing market."

He added that affordability pressures may ease somewhat with house price growth expected to be below earnings growth next year and the possibility of interest rate cuts in the second half of 2008.

The Rics July 2007 housing market survey stated that price growth in the Scottish housing market almost halved in comparison to June of the same year.