according to an exclusive poll for The Royal Gazette .

The study of 400 people, by Total Marketing and Communications, also showed only one-third support for Independence.

It showed 69 percent of residents saw housing costs as "a very serious problem''.

Around 65 percent said Government should start rent control, with just 25 percent saying market forces should dictate housing costs.

Black residents showed stronger support for rent controls than whites.

The Government intervention was backed by 77 percent of those with a household income of less than $50,000 and just 43 percent of those earning more than $100,000.

Pollsters also found 76 percent of residents aged 18 to 34 wanted rent restrictions but the plan was backed by just 52 percent of over-55s.

Affordable housing campaigner Rosemary Pedro said: "Rightfully, our older generation have benefited from real estate and have not been affected by housing inflation.

"It's something which affects the younger generation, who are finding it more and more difficult to own their own piece of the rock.

"An increasing number of Bermudians are finding it far more difficult than ever before to find affordable accommodation,'' she said. "These figures reflect the reality of the situation and they give a pretty good account of how many people are affected by housing difficulties in Bermuda.'' Meanwhile, The Royal Gazette survey showed just 17 percent were fervent Independence supporters and only 16 percent "generally'' supported splitting from Britain.

More than half those quizzed objected to Bermuda going its own way.

Thirty percent "strongly'' opposed independence with 24 percent "generally'' against.

But opinion was sharply divided between blacks and whites, rich and poor.

Three quarters of white residents came out against Independence, compared to 32 percent of black residents. Also, 72 percent of those with household incomes above $100,000 opposed an independent Bermuda. Just 48 percent of those earning less than $50,000 were anti-independence.

The poll statement said: "Those who support Independence believe it will provide more control over Bermuda's destiny or say it is a matter of national pride.

Pollster defends survey: Page 3 Editoral: Page 4 Poll: Little support for Independence "Comparatively, those who oppose it express concerns that the Country is too small, that it will have negative economic or political ramifications or can see no good reason for severing this tie.'' Independence campaigner Walton Brown said he was not disappointed with the results as "the status quo can no longer exist''.

He said Bermudians were instead faced with a stark choice -- Independence or closer ties with Britain.

Mr. Brown said the choice was forced because Bermuda was at risk of being labelled a tax haven, which he said it could defend as an Independent country.

Bermuda's only other option would be to become a "department'' of the UK, he said, with Foreign Secretary Robin Cook "trying to shed'' the British colonial image.

"I know there's widespread support to keep things as they are,'' he added.

"But that's really not the issue. We either have to lessen the ties or increase the ties. The only shame is that Bermudians do not yet seem to have grasped a clear understanding of the full issue.'' The quarterly survey was taken between September 28 and 30 and has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.

HOUSING HSG