X Factor star Leona cannot afford to buy London house

X Factor winner Leona Lewis, who is currently conquering the American charts, says she cannot afford to buy a house in London.

The 22-year-old singer is desperate to get on the property ladder in her native east London but is getting frustrated with estate agents who increase the asking price when they find out who she is.

Lewis, who yesterday became the first British woman in 20 years to top the US charts, with Bleeding Love, recently put an offer on a £500,000 house in Hackney with her boyfriend Lou Al-Chamaa.

But when the estate agent found out who had made the offer, they increased the price by £100,000, forcing the couple to pull out.

A friend said: "It was quite upset-

ting. They had their heart set on a property and they offered the asking price. But the seller thought she was a pop star and could afford more, so he upped the price. "It's great she wants to buy a house in the area where she grew up - it should not be made harder because she's made something of herself."

Despite signing a £5 million record deal, her father Joe said she only makes enough money to live on.

He said: "It's a myth Leona is a millionaire, rolling in money. She isn't as well off as everyone thinks."