Mortgage payments in 2011 were at their most affordable levels for a decade, according to data from Barclays.

Research from the bank, looking at more than one million customer accounts, reveals that the average homeowner paid out 15.4 per cent of their take-home pay on their mortgage in 2011. That compares to a 20.5 per cent share of income in 2008, when mortgage payments took up the largest proportion of salary.

Andy Gray, head of mortgages at Barclays, says these findings are unsurprising given last year's conditions: 'With the cheapest ever mortgage deals offered to homeowners last year and the fiercely competitive mortgage market it stands to reason that the average monthly mortgage payment was at its most affordable level in a decade.'

The percentage of take-home pay spent on mortgage payments differs according to region with London mortgageholders spending the largest proportion each month (18.9 per cent), compared to those in the East Midlands and Wales, who only pay 14.1 per cent.

The figures show that while the housing market is undergoing a difficult time, those already on the property ladder are faring better than those yet to climb onto it. Average rents went up by 3.5 per cent last year, according to LSL property services.

Barclays' analysis coincides with its own consumer opinion polls, which show that 64 per cent of homeowners find their mortgage affordable, compared to 52 per cent at the same time last year. Its research also reveals that 83 per cent of homeowners are financially prepared for future interest rate rises.

'We know that other financial factors are likely to bite again this year, but homeowners can't afford to forget about their mortgage just because base rate is predicted to remain at record lows throughout 2012,' warns Gray.

'The cost of energy bills, running a car and food may be beyond their control, but homeowners have an opportunity to look at their mortgage payments and shop around for better deals to ensure their mortgage remains affordable during 2012 and beyond, which will also help to offset any other rising household costs,' he adds.

This was written for our sister website, Moneywise