Concerns have been raised about first-time buyers not being able to get on the housing ladder in Bexley after it emerged 22 per cent of properties bought in the borough are second homes.

Figures from HM Revenue & Customs show 903 second homes were bought in Bexley by property investors and landlords buying houses to rent out in the financial year 2017-2018, which totalled £306 million.

Although this figure is slightly below the national average, it has risen by 18 per cent in one year, with 790 second homes being bought in Bexley in 2016-2017.

Ann Kournif, a Bexley resident who has been living in the borough for three years, said the number of second homes being bought in the borough was “disgusting” and worried new housing developments being built would only make the problem worse.

Ms Kournif was strongly opposed to proposals for 518 homes and a new development on the site of the old Bexley Civic Centre because it did not provide any social housing.

Speaking about the number of second homes being bought in the borough, she said:“Given the shortage of housing for people who really need it, they just keep building these new properties and sell them to investors.

“I’ve noticed it happening more and more now.

“I live in a maisonette and on my side of the street, most people own their homes and live in them, but on the other side, quite a few people have bought them to rent out.

“You see them getting done up and then someone else moves in.”

Ms Kournif added the constant moving-in and moving-out of renters has the effect of "tearing communities apart."

Teresa Pearce, MP for Erith and Thamesmead, also expressed concerns about provision of social housing in the borough in light of the statistics.

Speaking to News Shopper, she said: “Bexley has been very attractive to buy-to-let landlords in recent years, partly because of the ‘affordability’ of houses in our area but also because of the lack of social housing there is an ever-increasing demand for private rented.

“This has resulted in many family homes being split into bedsits to increase profitability and has also resulted in first-time buyers competing against cash-buyer landlords for homes.

“The only way to stop this trend is for more social housing to be built for the families that desperately need it.”

Bexley Council has sought to put more of a positive view on the rise in second-home ownership in the borough.

A council spokeswoman said: “Bexley has an exciting growth agenda that aims to deliver extra homes for Bexley residents.

“The rise in second-home ownership from such a low base does not necessarily mean that the borough has an exceptional number of second homes.

“The rise does however reflect the fact that Bexley is one of the most affordable boroughs in London.

“There are also many positive aspects of living in Bexley that make buying or renting in the borough so popular.

“Rents have increased but we still expect Bexley to remain a more affordable borough to rent in than most of London.”