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Debate House Prices


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Biggest subsidy keeping house prices high

2

Comments

  • StevieJ
    StevieJ Posts: 20,174 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    michaels wrote: »
    No I think the OP is correct - as a society we have decided that everyone should be housed (seems like the right decision to me) and the mechanism to achieve that is increasing the return on the housing stock by many billions each year which no doubt supports house price levels.

    Does anyone have an alternative method of meeting the policy objective?

    How does the govt reducing housing support levels lead to rising rents?
    'Just think for a moment what a prospect that is. A single market without barriers visible or invisible giving you direct and unhindered access to the purchasing power of over 300 million of the worlds wealthiest and most prosperous people' Margaret Thatcher
  • bryanb
    bryanb Posts: 5,034 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    mbga9pgf wrote: »
    Little jimmys mum should stop smoking 40 a day round him then and perhaps he wouldnt have asthma. :D



    You think passive smoking causes asthma?
    This is an open forum, anyone can post and I just did !
  • mbga9pgf
    mbga9pgf Posts: 3,224 Forumite
    Yes.

    http://smoking.ygoy.com/can-passive-smoking-cause-asthma-in-children/

    Smokers are almost as disgusting as lifelong benefits claimants, on the basis they force others to share their filthy, dirty habit.

    At least snot-eaters dont force their pickings on anyone else.
  • ILW
    ILW Posts: 18,333 Forumite
    Most pubs have turned into rather dull restaurants since the smoking ban. I did prefer them before.
  • mbga9pgf
    mbga9pgf Posts: 3,224 Forumite
    Are you a smoker?
  • ILW
    ILW Posts: 18,333 Forumite
    Not any more, but I do miss what some pubs used to be like. I truly believe there is a demand for both types of place.
  • StevieJ
    StevieJ Posts: 20,174 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    mbga9pgf wrote: »
    Yes.

    http://smoking.ygoy.com/can-passive-smoking-cause-asthma-in-children/

    Smokers are almost as disgusting as lifelong benefits claimants, on the basis they force others to share their filthy, dirty habit.

    At least snot-eaters dont force their pickings on anyone else.

    Until they touch something you want to eat, say, in the restaurant kitchen :eek:
    'Just think for a moment what a prospect that is. A single market without barriers visible or invisible giving you direct and unhindered access to the purchasing power of over 300 million of the worlds wealthiest and most prosperous people' Margaret Thatcher
  • macaque_2
    macaque_2 Posts: 2,439 Forumite
    michaels wrote: »
    No I think the OP is correct - as a society we have decided that everyone should be housed (seems like the right decision to me) and the mechanism to achieve that is increasing the return on the housing stock by many billions each year which no doubt supports house price levels.

    Does anyone have an alternative method of meeting the policy objective?
    michaels wrote: »
    No I think the OP is correct - as a society we have decided that everyone should be housed (seems like the right decision to me) and the mechanism to achieve that is increasing the return on the housing stock by many billions each year which no doubt supports house price levels.

    Does anyone have an alternative method of meeting the policy objective?

    "the mechanism to achieve that is increasing the return on the housing stock"
    To use an agricultural metaphore, you solve meat shortages by giving farmers incentives to breed pigs, not by paying more to pork belly traders.

    If the the £20b housing benefit was slashed by half and the other £10b was used to build houses your aspiration of cheap homes for all would realised. Even as I write this however I can hear your howls of rage at such an idea. The real problem with the UK housing market is that too many vested interests have become dependant house price inflation. Builders hoard land banks, single people live in 5 bed houses, nimbys block new developments and investors hoard empty properties.

    House price bubbles are bad for the economy and are socially divisive. The problem is solved by taking money (like housing benefit) out of the system, not putting more in.

    As for the government, they now recognise the problems of the house price bubble. Unfortunately they are stuck on a ledge. If prices go up, the dangers and problems will only get worse. If they force prices down quickly however, the banks will go bust. Their position can probably best be described by the words of St Augustine: "Lord make me pure - but not yet"
  • michaels wrote: »
    No I think the OP is correct - as a society we have decided that everyone should be housed (seems like the right decision to me) and the mechanism to achieve that is increasing the return on the housing stock by many billions each year which no doubt supports house price levels.

    Does anyone have an alternative method of meeting the policy objective?

    The OP is spot on.

    The good news is the cuts coming in soon.

    No more families with with more kids than days working getting to live in 2K per week London properties.
  • abaxas
    abaxas Posts: 4,141 Forumite
    mbga9pgf wrote: »
    Yes.

    http://smoking.ygoy.com/can-passive-smoking-cause-asthma-in-children/

    Smokers are almost as disgusting as lifelong benefits claimants, on the basis they force others to share their filthy, dirty habit.

    At least snot-eaters dont force their pickings on anyone else.

    Car drivers too? Polluting the air with their filthy stench.
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