Owning your own home

Really? How can they quantify what is affordable to you so long as it's under your monthly income? Surely only you can say what that is. One person with a lavish lifestyle and lots of outgoings every month shouldn't have as much to spend on a house as a person who doesn't go out at all all things being equal.

Once we move my wife will be the only one using the car. But even that's only something like 15 miles every day.

I'll still beat her home in rush hour traffic though!

It's their money, they can choose to lend it to whomever they see fit. Or not.

If I don't get something sorted this year then I'm going to have to consider leaving London. I know that sounds overly dramatic, but I think you need to feel as though you're working towards something. Getting up for work every morning knowing that half of that money is going to a landlord is wearing thin.