New data from Urban.co.uk, the national online estate agent, reveals how our favourite soap characters would fair in today’s competitive property market.
Having assessed the current job salaries and estimated property values for 24 soap characters, Urban.co.uk can reveal that the majority would only be able to rent their homes in Albert Square, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks, as they would be far too expensive to buy.
Life on the cobbles isn’t more affordable either; even Kevin Webster, car mechanic and the street’s highest earner, cannot afford to purchase his modest two bedroom, terraced house in Salford. In fact, of the eight Corrie characters assessed, Leanne Tilsley, restaurant manager, was the only character identified as being the most financially able to purchase her property but still with a deficit of £6,874.75 (28% of her current yearly salary).
The research also shows that the entire village of Emmerdale earns far less than needed to buy a property in Esholt; the village where the fictional village of Emmerdale is set. With Rakesh Kotecha having recently committed insurance fraud by setting fire to his latest building project, Mill Cottage, affordable housing in the village is at an all time low.
Only Louis Loveday in Hollyoaks is in a position to secure a mortgage to cover the current value of his property. He could borrow £193,200 based on his salary as a school teacher to purchase his flat, currently estimated at £195,850. After such a turbulent year for the Loveday family, this should come as welcome news!
