Published on 12, July, 2020
I think there is a huge housing crisis out there.
I am not happy with the place I am in and I would like to move to a better place. But I cannot find a way to move somewhere else. I feel that I am stuck.
I do not know what else to do. I often feel desperate.
I wonder if you are happy with your housing situations...
I can’t stand the term “crisis” it’s so over used and misused these days it’s totally lost it’s meaning.
The “housing crisis” in the UK is a lie started by the government and building contractors to artificially justify building houses everywhere because it has such an impact on the growth of the economy.
The issue with housing is the attitude towards long term renting, poor quality rental stock (sometime just plane dangerous), not enough legislation around controlling the quality of housing stock or the manpower to implement it. If you are in a position to own second, third...tenth homes you’re criticised and targeted by the socialist left who want to tax you to within an inch of your life for doing well in the world.
The Riddler said:The “housing crisis” in the UK is a lie started by the government and building contractors to artificially justify building houses everywhere because it has such an impact on the growth of the economy.
I'm not sure this is the full picture although there maybe an element of truth regarding artificiality of intentions. I think it comes down to the difference between genuine low-cost, Social Housing and Private house building with only profit in mind. The problem is we have one party who sees the crisis in the former and the other party who are only concerned about the latter. In any case the problem lies in affordability and the shortage of affordable, sustainable homes for people. This is true in both Social Housing and in the Private market for first-time buyers. For example, if you have a look at Council or Social Housing waiting lists around the country, they go into the millions, with stories of years and even decades of waiting to no avail. I would say this is where the crisis really is and because it has not been addressed it has led to a multitude of of other social problems which has institutionalised insecurity & poverty basically. We can't have it both ways. If low-waged, insecure work, zero-hour contracts, gig-economy etc etc are encouraged where are these people supposed to live ? Where can they afford realistically ? We are also talking about essential workers that our economy can't function without ; hospital staff from nurses to cleaners, supermarket & store workers, care home workers etc etc etc.
The Housing Crisis does not end there. There are also those who may be fortunate enough to have more secure jobs & incomes and even help with mortgage deposits from parents who also struggle to get on the housing ladder because the costs are simply to high. You can't just throw out a few gesture policies that say you are building a handful of ' affordable homes ' in the private market only and expect to address the problems above. There cannot be any surprise then when mental health issues, crime, poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, prison populations and so on go through the roof when these problems are ignored. You can be the judge if these problems are caused by the former or latter parties.
The Riddler said:The issue with housing is the attitude towards long term renting, poor quality rental stock (sometime just plane dangerous), not enough legislation around controlling the quality of housing stock or the manpower to implement it.
I couldn't agree more and am with you that gov regulation is the only way this can happen but without addressing Social Housing there can be no balance or solution. Policies Simply focusing on the Private Housing Market alone is not addressing the problem at all.
The Riddler said:If you are in a position to own second, third...tenth homes you’re criticised and targeted by the socialist left who want to tax you to within an inch of your life for doing well in the world.
It's all about balance is it not ? Is it better for a handful of people in ( the overall population ratio ) to own ten homes tax free at the expense of millions not able to have one secure place to live ? You can't have it both ways. You can't have an economy that encourages a boom & bust housing market with a few winners and lots of losers and expect more balanced housing policies you talk about in other parts of Europe for example can you ?
I believe there is definitely a housing crisis.
If there would not be one, then I could easily move somewhere else.
Absolutely!
The problem is the changing requirements to building standards - it's cheap to build basic houses but directly you need to update / rewire / re plumb / insulate etc. it costs a fortune to rip out the old stuff and put in new - especially where standards have changed so the update is incompatible (eg solid brick walls and insulated walls),
The old houses drop out of the system because the housing association charges below-market rents so they can't accumulate enough cash to keep them up to scratch.
The average renter these days absolves all responsibility to look after their own accommodation so the property will require a full refurb before the next tenant can move in - sucking more cash away from the ability to rebuild.
The people who need the property are often their own worst enemies.