Would you march for more affordable housing?

Cleaver

carolt wrote: »

I think there's plenty they can and should do to sort out the mess they've created.

1. Build loads and loads of social housing.
2. Bring back security of tenure and rent limits for tenants.
3. Remove tax perks for landlords.
4. Insist on income multiples for mortgages.
5. I could go on for hours, but I'll leave it there.

By far the biggest driver of HPI in this country is the fact that the vast majority of the moronic population seem to derive glee from houses going up in value on the basis that it makes them 'richer'. Everyone seems obsessed with the idea of owning one or more houses and speculating on the value. An industry is then created around this.

You can try and get government to intervene with various tools and methods to try and manipulate the situation, but until our culture changes I think we'll just continue on the same path. It isn't the government's fault, it's because we're all morons.

By all means have a march though, see if it makes a difference. I'll come along for sh*ts and giggles. Oh, and some lunch. As long as Pastures isn't making it - I need more than just a salad cream sandwich.

Cleaver

carolt wrote: »

3. Remove tax perks for landlords.

Sorry, just to be specific: do you mean legislating against tax deductable items for all business owners, or just one law specifically for landlords?

C_Mababejive

We dont live in a Communist regime. You cannot interfere with market forces. We have already done that by providing special housing deals for reserved occupations and dolehoppers.

ruggedtoast

house123 wrote: »

Would you be prepared to march through London to protest in favour of more affordable housing of the right types and in the right locations? Let’s say 6 weeks before the general election?

Probably, unfortunately I think it might be a rather small march. Most people dont want affordable housing, for themselves maybe but certainly not other people.

Maybe I am bein overly pessimistic, but I just think most British people are too materialistic and short sighted to try and agitate for social change now.

The institutions and communities that might support that have been thoroughly dismantled by successive politicians since the 80s and replaced, largely, by status anxiety, alcoholism, and consumerism.

Oldernotwiser

No

carolt wrote: »

I can see your points, but disagree.

I think there's plenty they can and should do to sort out the mess they've created.

1. Build loads and loads of social housing.
2. Bring back security of tenure and rent limits for tenants.
3. Remove tax perks for landlords.
4. Insist on income multiples for mortgages.
5. I could go on for hours, but I'll leave it there.

When there was rent control and security of tenure it was really hard to find a property to rent as very few people were interested in being landlords.

markharding557

carolt wrote: »

I can see your points, but disagree.

I think there's plenty they can and should do to sort out the mess they've created.

1. Build loads and loads of social housing.
2. Bring back security of tenure and rent limits for tenants.
3. Remove tax perks for landlords.
4. Insist on income multiples for mortgages.
5. I could go on for hours, but I'll leave it there.

I agree with building more social housing but with certain provisions such as it should be aimed at the low paid employed and under no circumstances should it be given to criminals.
the above has been the single biggest failing of social housing in the last half century

kabayiri

If you had a lot more affordable housing in London you'd have the embarassing situation of us Norverners coming down to the Big City looking for 'barginn' holiday homes.

Could you cope?

sjaypink

markharding557 wrote: »

I agree with building more social housing but with certain provisions such as it should be aimed at the low paid employed and under no circumstances should it be given to criminals.
the above has been the single biggest failing of social housing in the last half century

Really? Most of the debates I've read on MSE have said its wrong for workers to have social housing?

Unfair on other workers that they are being subsidised, should only be for those in genuine need/ no where else to live (non-earners) etc

I think a fair balance of both is the way forward

Oldernotwiser

No

sjaypink wrote: »

Really? Most of the debates I've read on MSE have said its wrong for workers to have social housing?

Unfair on other workers that they are being subsidised, should only be for those in genuine need/ no where else to live (non-earners) etc

I think a fair balance of both is the way forward

Doesn't that rather make the assumption that social housing is (or should be) subsidised? That's by no means the case.

sjaypink

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Doesn't that rather make the assumption that social housing is (or should be) subsidised? That's by no means the case.

Take up the subsidy debate with Graham Devon. He loves it- we've been there many times