Two Labour MPs yesterday said the rising cost of property and material was causing problems for families who wanted to do up their house and young people who wanted to purchase their own home.

Charles Buhagiar and Dr Stefan Buontempo said that the various initiatives introduced by the government to keep in check the cost of property were not working, adding that the latest data showed property prices to have increased by 14 per cent in the first three months of the year.

They said it was becoming impossible for low and medium wage earners to buy their own house and they were forced to either risk taking a mortgage that was too much for them or else going to live with their parents.

The Labour spokesmen added that the price of material had also increased.

Mr Buhagiar and Dr Buontempo called on the government to take corrective action to ensure that everyone had the opportunity to be able to find a decent home.

They suggested that the government should provide incentives that would encourage people to rent property at a reasonable rate if they could not afford to buy their own.