ONLY a few years ago, the price-tag would have been thought outrageous. In estate agent speak the house in Fossway, York, is "modest" and "requires some modernisation". In reality it is tiny and might fall down if the foundations are not shored up. All yours for £75,000.

That this appears to be far and away York's cheapest house says much about the nightmare for first-time buyers. That it has already been bought by a developer says the rest.

There are no starter homes any more, unless new buyers have a family fortune. More depressing still, politicians locally and nationally appear unable to get to grips with the housing crisis.

Updated: 09:56 Friday, February 27, 2004