Re: Housing Crisis - Could This Be Why?

I understand that Uncle Joe but what I don't understand is how rents can soar that high in the first place - how are people supposed to be able to afford to pay them? To be honest, after watching that programme, I'm a little less surprised that people do choode to stay unemployed with the tax payer footing the bill - they wouldn't be able to pay it themselves!

Re: Housing Crisis - Could This Be Why?

Precisely Karen darlin'!!! - and because 'commercial' rents are high, there is a tendency where housing is in short supply to push up all rents (including those on Housing Benefit). Councils now 'cap' limits on what they will pay towards rents in the private sector (particularly in the centre of towns) in an attempt to restrict the rise in rents, but this then limits the possibility of Housing Benefit claimants from living in the centre of the city close to shops and other essential services, which means there is then a greater need for transport connections to the suburbs. In some instances in London, some of the inner city councils have relocated their Housing Benefit claimants to other towns and cities altogether in an attempt to reduce the Housing Benefit they are paying out. Such policy of couse, takes no account of individual circumstances and removes the claimant notn only away from the area they know, but also away from their friends and relatives too.

Re: Housing Crisis - Could This Be Why?

We would need a rent cap to have stopped prices rising, I am not sure there would be much appetite for that in such a greedy world as we live in.

Re: Housing Crisis - Could This Be Why?

Yes Julie, the Government COULD do that, but the present government doesn't have the political 'will' to do so, because of the vested interests that exists amongst their back-bench.

Re: Housing Crisis - Could This Be Why?

You are right but are forgetting no previous government has done it either and labour had long enough to prove themselves IMO

Re: Housing Crisis - Could This Be Why?

Again Julie I concur, but then BLIAR was a Tory anyway and Brown was a useless git.

Re: Housing Crisis - Could This Be Why?

The problem is that you can't ban buyers for what they intend to do with the property once they've bought it but I thought that there are supposed to be safeguards in place to ensure genuine buyers, (who wish to live in the properties), are given first choice but judging from what happens round here that's not working or it's been ignored.

We have a development virtually on our doorsteps and we got involved because we were concerned about the potentially huge increase in the local population plus the ability of the local infrastructure to cope.

One of the things we all asked about too was buy-to-let purchasers and we were assured that sales would be to genuine home seekers rather than those seeking an investment.
We were told that there would be a 5 year ban on new owners selling-on or renting-out their newly purchased properties so we felt a little better - until early this year, with the first phase being barely 12 months old.

We saw "To Let" signs appearing on 4 properties then "For Sale" signs on three others!

All our enquiries have resulted in no replies whatsoever from our Council, our MP or the developer, who is currently building the next phase, twenty yards from my front door, so we were lied to, much as we thought we would be, despite the "consultation" farce we all went through!

It also seems that the "30% social housing provision" that we saw originally is now more like 15% because far from being a housing scheme to help ordinary buyers, this is now a "luxury development" - £200,000+ for a poky 2-bed house?!!!
You're having a laugh!!! stevmk2

Re: Housing Crisis - Could This Be Why?

I am not sure we couldn't ban people doing things with their properties we already list what properties are allowed to be used for and listed buildings have quite strict rules attached. Would take much tweaking to extend the idea.

Re: Housing Crisis - Could This Be Why?

It is called racketeering, do you remember the Ranchman scandal?
Some of you who are old enough will I am sure.
Peter Rachman

Re: Housing Crisis - Could This Be Why?

I wonder if the fact that people are living longer, together with the fact that they are able to keep living in their homes and not selling them to pay care bills (I know quite a few people who have left theirs empty) is adding to the problem. Middle aged people, maybe aren't being left properties so are staying put longer, if you get my drift, so the market's not moving and the money invested in the property isn't being passed down the line, so to speak.