The UK housing market may be at record levels but buyers have it easy compared to many other European countries.

Research by property search engine Properazzi revealed that the average gross earnings needed to buy a property in the UK stands at the equivalent of nine years’ salary.

Despite having one of the highest average property prices in Europe, the UK also enjoys strong salary levels and compares favourably to countries such as Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Bulgaria.

The nations where buying property is most affordable according to the index are Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

It would take just 5.3 years’ salary to afford the average-priced house in Denmark, compared to 15.6 in Poland and 29.0 in Bulgaria.