What do you consider as the best way for resolving the nationwide housing crisis?
What do you consider as the best way for resolving the nationwide housing crisis?
It’s an elephant in the room. Some folks say limiting the number of foreign students is the best way. As unsavoury as it sounds, it’s true that the abundance of foreign students does put a huge strain on housing supply when almost all major cities and towns have or are near to some universities. Debates seem difficult when it’s easily being associated with racism and xenophobia.
How could this be resolved in the practical sense so that those who don’t own houses, including me, would not have to worry about homelessness anymore?
It’s an elephant in the room. Some folks say limiting the number of foreign students is the best way. As unsavoury as it sounds, it’s true that the abundance of foreign students does put a huge strain on housing supply when almost all major cities and towns have or are near to some universities. Debates seem difficult when it’s easily being associated with racism and xenophobia.
How could this be resolved in the practical sense so that those who don’t own houses, including me, would not have to worry about homelessness anymore?
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Original post by ABBAForever2015
What do you consider as the best way for resolving the nationwide housing crisis?
It’s an elephant in the room. Some folks say limiting the number of foreign students is the best way. As unsavoury as it sounds, it’s true that the abundance of foreign students does put a huge strain on housing supply when almost all major cities and towns have or are near to some universities. Debates seem difficult when it’s easily being associated with racism and xenophobia.
How could this be resolved in the practical sense so that those who don’t own houses, including me, would not have to worry about homelessness anymore?
It’s an elephant in the room. Some folks say limiting the number of foreign students is the best way. As unsavoury as it sounds, it’s true that the abundance of foreign students does put a huge strain on housing supply when almost all major cities and towns have or are near to some universities. Debates seem difficult when it’s easily being associated with racism and xenophobia.
How could this be resolved in the practical sense so that those who don’t own houses, including me, would not have to worry about homelessness anymore?
On housing, the solution is simple - build more houses.
On immigration, the first step is also really easy. We don't actually count people in and out of the country which is utterly barmy. By counting people in and out, at the very least we might have a decent indication as to how many people are coming and going. The current method for measuring immigration is bonkers.
Original post by ABBAForever2015
What do you consider as the best way for resolving the nationwide housing crisis?
It’s an elephant in the room. Some folks say limiting the number of foreign students is the best way. As unsavoury as it sounds, it’s true that the abundance of foreign students does put a huge strain on housing supply when almost all major cities and towns have or are near to some universities. Debates seem difficult when it’s easily being associated with racism and xenophobia.
How could this be resolved in the practical sense so that those who don’t own houses, including me, would not have to worry about homelessness anymore?
It’s an elephant in the room. Some folks say limiting the number of foreign students is the best way. As unsavoury as it sounds, it’s true that the abundance of foreign students does put a huge strain on housing supply when almost all major cities and towns have or are near to some universities. Debates seem difficult when it’s easily being associated with racism and xenophobia.
How could this be resolved in the practical sense so that those who don’t own houses, including me, would not have to worry about homelessness anymore?
Is £65-70k for a two bed freehold property really out of your affordability?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150889244#/?channel=RES_BUY
That's what - 2x to 2.5x the average wage in the UK, about 1.5x average household income.
You don't want to live in Port Glasgow?
Then could go for somewhere more rural, get a bit of a sea view, under £50k, again two bed freehold.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126593144#/?channel=RES_BUY
Don't fancy living in Scotland due to the advanced tax band? Then how about a three bed terrace for £50k?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150987767#/?channel=RES_BUY
Original post by Quady
Is £65-70k for a two bed freehold property really out of your affordability?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150889244#/?channel=RES_BUY
That's what - 2x to 2.5x the average wage in the UK, about 1.5x average household income.
You don't want to live in Port Glasgow?
Then could go for somewhere more rural, get a bit of a sea view, under £50k, again two bed freehold.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126593144#/?channel=RES_BUY
Don't fancy living in Scotland due to the advanced tax band? Then how about a three bed terrace for £50k?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150987767#/?channel=RES_BUY
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150889244#/?channel=RES_BUY
That's what - 2x to 2.5x the average wage in the UK, about 1.5x average household income.
You don't want to live in Port Glasgow?
Then could go for somewhere more rural, get a bit of a sea view, under £50k, again two bed freehold.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126593144#/?channel=RES_BUY
Don't fancy living in Scotland due to the advanced tax band? Then how about a three bed terrace for £50k?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150987767#/?channel=RES_BUY
I don’t have the money to buy a house. I am glad that you afford it, but please do not assume that everyone is as well-off as you do in a condescending manner.
In the past before Sauron Thatcher we had lots and plentiful social housing whilst also having a increase in immigrants then we had right to buy, then we didn't build sufficient social housing to replace the ones we lost, we also defunded councils giving them less power to build social housing and universities receive less funding meaning even they cant build student accommodation thus creating the strain on the housing market. Practically the government should first end austerity era cuts on the councils then create a public works scheme where social housing on mass can be built whilst scrapping right to buy. Vienna has adopted this model its worked very well in the ex warsaw pact countries home ownership is 90+% due to social housing (commie blocks) made during concurrent regimes.
I agree with Hotpud that the solution lies in building more houses, but let's not be fooled by the apparent simplicity of this suggestion. The devil, as they say, is in the details. How do we go about building these houses? Should they be private developments, social housing, or a mix of both? If we lean towards social housing, which many argue is sorely needed, how will we fund it given that the public purse is already stretched thin? It's all well and good to say "build more houses," but we need to address the underlying mechanisms and financial realities.
One potential route is to incentivise private development, perhaps coupled with rent caps to ensure affordability. However, this raises another question: what do we do about landlords? The current state of landlord regulation is often criticised for being too lax, allowing for exploitative practices that exacerbate the housing crisis. Should we consider stricter regulations, or even more radical solutions like rent controls or limits on the number of properties an individual can own? These are the kinds of questions that need addressing if we are serious about resolving the housing crisis in a sustainable and equitable way.
One potential route is to incentivise private development, perhaps coupled with rent caps to ensure affordability. However, this raises another question: what do we do about landlords? The current state of landlord regulation is often criticised for being too lax, allowing for exploitative practices that exacerbate the housing crisis. Should we consider stricter regulations, or even more radical solutions like rent controls or limits on the number of properties an individual can own? These are the kinds of questions that need addressing if we are serious about resolving the housing crisis in a sustainable and equitable way.
Original post by ABBAForever2015
I don’t have the money to buy a house. I am glad that you afford it, but please do not assume that everyone is as well-off as you do in a condescending manner.
What's your affordability?
What is your annual income?
Somehow I don't think "foreign students" are the issue relative to scores of landlords owning multiple homes and renting them for exorbitant prices, not to mention the swathes of homes being used exclusively for airbnb type purposes, as a way to parasitise human civilisation.
It should be illegal to rent a house you haven't fully paid off the mortgage on. There'd be a lot more affordable housing on the market if landlords with lines of credit and/or generational wealth weren't being allowed to buy properties they can't afford themselves, to have their tenants pay the mortgage for them.
It should be illegal to rent a house you haven't fully paid off the mortgage on. There'd be a lot more affordable housing on the market if landlords with lines of credit and/or generational wealth weren't being allowed to buy properties they can't afford themselves, to have their tenants pay the mortgage for them.
Original post by artful_lounger
Somehow I don't think "foreign students" are the issue relative to scores of landlords owning multiple homes and renting them for exorbitant prices, not to mention the swathes of homes being used exclusively for airbnb type purposes, as a way to parasitise human civilisation.
It should be illegal to rent a house you haven't fully paid off the mortgage on. There'd be a lot more affordable housing on the market if landlords with lines of credit and/or generational wealth weren't being allowed to buy properties they can't afford themselves, to have their tenants pay the mortgage for them.
It should be illegal to rent a house you haven't fully paid off the mortgage on. There'd be a lot more affordable housing on the market if landlords with lines of credit and/or generational wealth weren't being allowed to buy properties they can't afford themselves, to have their tenants pay the mortgage for them.
If that is illegal I believe much fewer landlords would rent out their properties then it would simply result in loads of folks sleeping on the streets
Original post by Rincewind_Bored
I agree with Hotpud that the solution lies in building more houses, but let's not be fooled by the apparent simplicity of this suggestion. The devil, as they say, is in the details. How do we go about building these houses? Should they be private developments, social housing, or a mix of both? If we lean towards social housing, which many argue is sorely needed, how will we fund it given that the public purse is already stretched thin? It's all well and good to say "build more houses," but we need to address the underlying mechanisms and financial realities.
One potential route is to incentivise private development, perhaps coupled with rent caps to ensure affordability. However, this raises another question: what do we do about landlords? The current state of landlord regulation is often criticised for being too lax, allowing for exploitative practices that exacerbate the housing crisis. Should we consider stricter regulations, or even more radical solutions like rent controls or limits on the number of properties an individual can own? These are the kinds of questions that need addressing if we are serious about resolving the housing crisis in a sustainable and equitable way.
One potential route is to incentivise private development, perhaps coupled with rent caps to ensure affordability. However, this raises another question: what do we do about landlords? The current state of landlord regulation is often criticised for being too lax, allowing for exploitative practices that exacerbate the housing crisis. Should we consider stricter regulations, or even more radical solutions like rent controls or limits on the number of properties an individual can own? These are the kinds of questions that need addressing if we are serious about resolving the housing crisis in a sustainable and equitable way.
Yes in England landlords can take holding deposits before even providing a contract while in Scotland it is the very opposite, i.e. much better tenant protection, despite housing shortage being serious
Original post by ABBAForever2015
If that is illegal I believe much fewer landlords would rent out their properties then it would simply result in loads of folks sleeping on the streets
No the point would be to stop a handful of people buying up all available housing, driving up the cost of houses, while also driving up rental rates. Because the point is none of them can afford these places themselves, they can only "afford" them by having their tenants paying the mortgages for them.
Build more houses.
Build more social homes / council houses.
Reserve a proportion of all new builds for first time buyers.
Clamp down on landlords / businesses who bulk buy properties for renting.
Build more social homes / council houses.
Reserve a proportion of all new builds for first time buyers.
Clamp down on landlords / businesses who bulk buy properties for renting.
Original post by Quady
Is £65-70k for a two bed freehold property really out of your affordability?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150889244#/?channel=RES_BUY
That's what - 2x to 2.5x the average wage in the UK, about 1.5x average household income.
You don't want to live in Port Glasgow?
Then could go for somewhere more rural, get a bit of a sea view, under £50k, again two bed freehold.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126593144#/?channel=RES_BUY
Don't fancy living in Scotland due to the advanced tax band? Then how about a three bed terrace for £50k?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150987767#/?channel=RES_BUY
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150889244#/?channel=RES_BUY
That's what - 2x to 2.5x the average wage in the UK, about 1.5x average household income.
You don't want to live in Port Glasgow?
Then could go for somewhere more rural, get a bit of a sea view, under £50k, again two bed freehold.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126593144#/?channel=RES_BUY
Don't fancy living in Scotland due to the advanced tax band? Then how about a three bed terrace for £50k?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150987767#/?channel=RES_BUY
This is a very disingenuous post. Your examples are in extremely remote parts of the country and / or in areas of high deprivation. This does not reflect the reality of those living in other parts of the country, namely those living in the South.
'Just move hundreds of miles away from your family and friends to a place that has no jobs and is in the middle of nowhere, why are you complaining?'
Original post by SHallowvale
This is a very disingenuous post. Your examples are in extremely remote parts of the country and / or in areas of high deprivation. This does not reflect the reality of those living in other parts of the country, namely those living in the South.
'Just move hundreds of miles away from your family and friends to a place that has no jobs and is in the middle of nowhere, why are you complaining?'
'Just move hundreds of miles away from your family and friends to a place that has no jobs and is in the middle of nowhere, why are you complaining?'
Well said. It is quite off-putting to see that.
Original post by Quady
Is £65-70k for a two bed freehold property really out of your affordability?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150889244#/?channel=RES_BUY
That's what - 2x to 2.5x the average wage in the UK, about 1.5x average household income.
You don't want to live in Port Glasgow?
Then could go for somewhere more rural, get a bit of a sea view, under £50k, again two bed freehold.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126593144#/?channel=RES_BUY
Don't fancy living in Scotland due to the advanced tax band? Then how about a three bed terrace for £50k?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150987767#/?channel=RES_BUY
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150889244#/?channel=RES_BUY
That's what - 2x to 2.5x the average wage in the UK, about 1.5x average household income.
You don't want to live in Port Glasgow?
Then could go for somewhere more rural, get a bit of a sea view, under £50k, again two bed freehold.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126593144#/?channel=RES_BUY
Don't fancy living in Scotland due to the advanced tax band? Then how about a three bed terrace for £50k?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150987767#/?channel=RES_BUY
Agreed with others. You are doing that classic thing of taking two completely different statistics and mixing them incorrectly to make your point.
The UK national wage is skewed by higher wages in the south of the UK. Cheap house prices in areas of depravation / rural areas are skewed by the fact that local wages can not allow buyers to afford more than being asked for. So you can't take wages in a high area and suggest that all they have to do is move to a cheap area because all of a sudden they would not be able to earn those high wages.
I would however side with your point and suggest that the issue of "affordable" housing usually relates to where people want to live (the nice areas) and is usually a tad unrealistic. Someone in our local newspaper was suggesting that instead of building luxury apartments in a prime city centre location, they should build social housing. I think not.
Original post by SHallowvale
This is a very disingenuous post. Your examples are in extremely remote parts of the country and / or in areas of high deprivation. This does not reflect the reality of those living in other parts of the country, namely those living in the South.
'Just move hundreds of miles away from your family and friends to a place that has no jobs and is in the middle of nowhere, why are you complaining?'
'Just move hundreds of miles away from your family and friends to a place that has no jobs and is in the middle of nowhere, why are you complaining?'
Port Glasgow is pretty close to me.
Easy commute to Glasgow.
Where does the OP currently live?
Anyway, they cited that those places were 'unaffordable', I mean jeez, 2x the average wage is unaffordable? The cost of the housing doesn't then sound like the issue surely?
Original post by hotpud
Agreed with others. You are doing that classic thing of taking two completely different statistics and mixing them incorrectly to make your point.
The UK national wage is skewed by higher wages in the south of the UK. Cheap house prices in areas of depravation / rural areas are skewed by the fact that local wages can not allow buyers to afford more than being asked for. So you can't take wages in a high area and suggest that all they have to do is move to a cheap area because all of a sudden they would not be able to earn those high wages.
I would however side with your point and suggest that the issue of "affordable" housing usually relates to where people want to live (the nice areas) and is usually a tad unrealistic. Someone in our local newspaper was suggesting that instead of building luxury apartments in a prime city centre location, they should build social housing. I think not.
The UK national wage is skewed by higher wages in the south of the UK. Cheap house prices in areas of depravation / rural areas are skewed by the fact that local wages can not allow buyers to afford more than being asked for. So you can't take wages in a high area and suggest that all they have to do is move to a cheap area because all of a sudden they would not be able to earn those high wages.
I would however side with your point and suggest that the issue of "affordable" housing usually relates to where people want to live (the nice areas) and is usually a tad unrealistic. Someone in our local newspaper was suggesting that instead of building luxury apartments in a prime city centre location, they should build social housing. I think not.
Median wage in Scotland was a bit over £33k in 2022.
https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefings/Report/2023/2/27/e0888682-8f9a-46f0-9448-5a588c583f58
I don't think the cause/effect relationship is as clear as that. Some areas aren't as trendy as others. Govanhill is what less than half a mile walk from Strathbungo and the price of equivalent property is quite different. We moved from the Southside to the East End as prices were about 30% lower. We've not needed to move jobs as a consequence. The only reason I originally moved to the southside was due to the higher cost of the trendier West End. Smoke blew from West to East so the posher victorians moved west.
I mean for sure the commute from Port Glasgow would be an hour by bus/train rather than a 35min walk (taking my place of work), but is that really what you'd call remote?
Original post by Quady
Port Glasgow is pretty close to me.
Easy commute to Glasgow.
Where does the OP currently live?
Anyway, they cited that those places were 'unaffordable', I mean jeez, 2x the average wage is unaffordable? The cost of the housing doesn't then sound like the issue surely?
Easy commute to Glasgow.
Where does the OP currently live?
Anyway, they cited that those places were 'unaffordable', I mean jeez, 2x the average wage is unaffordable? The cost of the housing doesn't then sound like the issue surely?
These homes do not exist in the places where people have jobs, that's the point. In areas such as the south of England there is not an abundance of homes worth < £60,000, at least not those in reasonable condition and close to where people work.
You went out of your way to find an example from Campbeltown, for goodness sake. You clearly understand how disingenuous your argument is.
Original post by SHallowvale
These homes do not exist in the places where people have jobs, that's the point. In areas such as the south of England there is not an abundance of homes worth < £60,000, at least not those in reasonable condition and close to where people work.
You went out of your way to find an example from Campbeltown, for goodness sake. You clearly understand how disingenuous your argument is.
You went out of your way to find an example from Campbeltown, for goodness sake. You clearly understand how disingenuous your argument is.
Eh? 'The places where people have jobs'?
Commutable to my job, well the Port Glasgow one is at least.
I didn't go out of my way to find the Campbeltown one. I know housing is cheap and it's a lovely place, holidayed there a few times.
The OP has not mentioned the south of England. They said 'nationwide housing crisis' both in the title and the body of their first post.
Are you disagreeing with the OP saying there is a nationwide housing crisis...? Asking as 'the south of England' has been mentioned by you twice now.
Original post by Quady
Eh? 'The places where people have jobs'?
Commutable to my job, well the Port Glasgow one is at least.
I didn't go out of my way to find the Campbeltown one. I know housing is cheap and it's a lovely place, holidayed there a few times.
The OP has not mentioned the south of England. They said 'nationwide housing crisis' both in the title and the body of their first post.
Are you disagreeing with the OP saying there is a nationwide housing crisis...? Asking as 'the south of England' has been mentioned by you twice now.
Commutable to my job, well the Port Glasgow one is at least.
I didn't go out of my way to find the Campbeltown one. I know housing is cheap and it's a lovely place, holidayed there a few times.
The OP has not mentioned the south of England. They said 'nationwide housing crisis' both in the title and the body of their first post.
Are you disagreeing with the OP saying there is a nationwide housing crisis...? Asking as 'the south of England' has been mentioned by you twice now.
Yes, the places where people have jobs. Port Glasgow is not the only place in the country. The millions of people who have jobs elsewhere and are looking for a home to buy cannot suddenly pack their bags and move to Port Glasgow en masse, their job can't move with them.
People live where there is work available and, yes, I think this is broadly a national crisis. I used the South as an example as it is the most obvious one, you aren't going to find < £60,000 homes there very often (if ever).
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What do you consider as the best way for resolving the nationwide housing crisis?
