New home costs make mortgage a struggle

FOUR in 10 new homeowners struggled to afford their first mortgage repayment due to the avalanche of upfront costs.

- By Oliver Lewis

A study of 1,000 first-time buyers in the past five years found they spent an average of £3,487 on items such as sofas, coffee tables and beds.

Kitchen appliances such as air fryers, coffee machines and toasters - added another £2,662, and redecorating to suit their style came in at £2,118.