I AM dismayed that the affordable housing schemes run by a number of housing associations in the York area are apparently only available to those with what they consider to be a "housing need."

It seems impossible to get on the York housing list (a prerequisite for such schemes, I am told) if you are renting privately, paying the rent on time and have two incomes coming in.

This means that many would-be buyers renting privately who want to get on the property ladder but are not earning enough to get a mortgage to buy a property on the open market have nowhere to turn, even if a lender would happily provide them with funds to buy 50 per cent or 75 per cent of a property, as required by some affordable housing schemes.

Surely a lot of people who have a housing need, such as being on means-tested benefit and unable to pay a private-sector rent, though they would qualify for the York housing list, would be unable to acquire a mortgage for 50 per cent or 75 per cent of a property.

I ask myself just who the present affordable housing rules are designed to help?

M Sturman,

Elgar Close,

Huntington, York.

Updated: 10:18 Friday, June 11, 2004