Leona Lewis can't afford to buy a house in the UK

She's poised to be the new Queen of Pop -- but Leona Lewis can't even afford to buy a home in the UK.

The singer, who shot to fame on UK TV talent contest 'X Factor', yesterday became the first British female singer in 21 years to have a solo single go straight in at number one in America.

But despite Leona's success, she can’t even get a foot on the property ladder in her native East London.

She recently made an offer of around $1m on a house in Hackney with her boyfriend, but when the vendor found out who she was they upped the price by $200,000, forcing the couple to pull out.

A source said: "It was quite upsetting. They had their heart set on a property and offered the asking price. But the seller thought she was a pop star and could afford more, so he upped the price. It’s cruel.

"It’s great she wants to buy a house in the area where she grew up — it shouldn’t be made harder because she’s made something of herself."

Leona's dad has previously revealed that despite the success of her album, Spirit, which was the fastest-selling UK debut of all time, the pop princess is no millionaire.

He said: "It’s a myth Leona is a millionaire. She earns enough to live on, but that’s it."

Leona, 22, currently shares an East London flat with childhood sweetheart Lou Al-Chamaa, an electrician.

Some of Leona's friends are trying to persuade her to quit London in favor of "somewhere safer and greener".

"Leona’s heart is in Hackney but lots of her friends want her to move," the pal tells British newspaper The Sun. "There is lots of gun and knife crime in the area. She’d be better off somewhere safer and greener, but still close to London.

"Her success in the US means she may be under pressure to move to the US anyway."

And Leona's mentor, Simon Cowell, is pleased with the budding star's success this past year.

He said: "I am so proud of Leona, what she has achieved in the past year is simply amazing."