The property market in Watford is set to sky-rocket in the next couple of years with people hunting for a "bargain buy" outside of London, but social housing in the town is at crisis point.

Watford has been tipped for a property boom by estate agents, who say the town is becoming increasingly popular with people looking for a cheaper home in the outskirts of London.

The new transport infrastructure, which will provide better access to the Metropolitan Line and Watford Junction, is expected to become a big attraction for commuters.

But overall average house prices in the town remain comparatively low - about £150,000 cheaper than St Albans and £130,000 cheaper than Guildford in Surrey, according to property website RightMove.

David Clayton, of Clayton Estate Agents, said the Watford property market was given a further boost this week after a feature on the town appeared in a national newspaper.

He said: "An article like this puts Watford at the forefront of people’s minds who might be looking to benefit from cheaper property prices than in London. It was certainly a very positive piece of news for the town’s property market.

"We’ve had several landlords register their interest as the lettings market in the town was also highlighted due to the strong demand we have here.

"Watford and surrounding areas including Garston and Abbots Langley will be even more popular places to live than ever before."

Statistics on RightMove, last updated on Monday, March 2, show the Watford property market has grown steadily in recent years.

RightMove said: "Watford, with an overall average price of £304,554, was similar in terms of sold prices to nearby Garston (£304,822), but was cheaper than Cassiobury (£350,692) and Nascot Wood (£350,692).

"In the past year house prices in Watford were 10 per cent up on the year before and 16 per cent up on 2012 when they averaged at £262,173."

But Watford’s elected mayor Dorothy Thornhill said the stock of social housing in the town is a far gloomier picture than the private market.

Mayor Thornhill said: "In Watford the list for a home is so long that most people on it will never be given social housing. When people are made homeless the only option is temporary accommodation - sometimes as far away as Dunstable.

"In Watford we’ve changed our rules so that you can only apply for social housing if you’ve been a resident for five out of the last six years. We’re working with developers to try to get the type of new housing that our town needs - and when we grant planning permission we make sure that they hold up their end of the bargain by making a third of new properties social or affordable homes."