Buying your own home means much more than just a place to lay your head every night; it means security, shelter, a place to raise your family and a roof over your head.

But for many people, owning a house or flat seems like a distant dream; for some, rent increases mean people are struggling to put food on their table let alone save for a deposit, while others are being forced to move back in with their parents in the hope of being able to save some cash before trying to get a mortgage.

Figures from LSL Property Services are showing that rents across the South East are averaging £788 per month and Shelter, the housing and homeless charity, fears that five million people - or two thirds of the private renters they surveyed- across England are getting stuck in a ‘rent trap’ - unable to save a penny towards a deposit due to having to pay for rent in their current homes.

See the MBS on Thursday for a special Spotlight report