Why 30-somethings are fleeing London, plus the growth of rabbit-hutch Britain

‘London has always been expensive but now, unless you got on the ladder when you were young or have a husband who works in the City, it’s unmanageable.’ Photograph: Hannah Mckay/EPA

Hello and welcome to this week’s Money Talks – a roundup of the week’s biggest stories and some things you may have missed.

Money news

Sub-prime cars: are car loans driving us towards the next financial crash?

Pensioners ‘£20 a week better off’ on average than workers

Viagogo accused of sitting on refunds after overcharging for tickets

Britons spend more on food and leisure, less on booze, smoking and drugs

New home owners gagged over poor build and compensation claims

Feature

‘We didn’t even have room for a table’: meet the 30-somethings fleeing London

Ellie Russell Stratton was born and bred in east London, but left the capital with her family last year, shortly after her 30th birthday.

In pictures

Romantic retreats

The Gaelic name of this bungalow on the Isle of Coll, Argyll & Bute, means ‘Shelter of the Limpets’, which is just the sort of place you need for undisturbed clinging. Photograph: CKD Galbraith

In the spotlight

What does the future hold for those in search of somewhere to live, now that the government has signalled a relaxation of minimum space standards? Rupert Jones investigates.

UK houses may not be quite as small as those in this model village, but they are getting more bijou all the time. Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian

Consumer champions

Travel Trolley wanted £175 to correct a typo on my booking

Equifax mistake with my credit score nearly lost me a mortgage

GWR’s compensation scheme is all delay and no repay

E.ON Heat no help after we moved into a new apartment without heating or hot water

My refund was a no-show after The Lowry charged my card twice

Money deals

Our 10% discount on Guardian travel insurance, provided by Voyager, has been extended until 28 February. Use promo code WIN10 to claim your discount.

You could save on international money transfers with free online transfers and competitive exchange rates from Guardian International Money Transfers, provided by Moneycorp.