It's not a housing shortage, it's greed capitalising on a supply and demand basis. They are capitalising on very poor planning laws and policies that have played directly into the developers hands to build the wrong kind of developments.Thus we have the wrong kind of housing in the wrong areas.This was posted elsewhere, makes a lot of sense to me and a lot better than HS2 for the people of the UK"If all the empty habitable dwellings across London were required to be occupied by law, then this would have two benefits. It would bring down rents, by reducing demand and thus creating competition and thus also bring up the standards of rented homes.As developers are only interested in big profits for their investors ( and if you look at some of the backers of many developers, the kind of people involved rather tells on how much of a money making venture this has become.It would be better for the state with local authorities to acquire either by it's own land reserves or by CPO sites and build with a construction only partner, homes that can be sold on long leases but not as traditional council homes. These would be of good quality, desirable but not fully freehold. And what is actually needed, not what developers tell us we (they) need. There would be strings attached to prevent profiteering, sub-letting and alterations. Any future sale would include an additional levy to the council ( a bit like a football club gets a return from a sold on high flying player or is re-sold for a huge fee later in his career.) Occupants in work and of normal income would be expected to maintain the property if rented or long leased. Those on council rent and low incomes , elderly or disabled, rent in the traditional way. Thus reducing the repairs burden of poor quality and rip offs that bedevil council properties.But most can be sold for a modest profit but all profit returns to the authority developer and is only allowed to go into the next housing project.All almshouses, disabled facilities and special needs homes remain in the authority inventory for those specific needs..By having a mix there will be a social benefit and clearly defined rules on tenancy and leases on anti-social behaviour and civic duty. In other word what is expected of residents. The same as is found in 'premium developments" but also It's time the whistle was blown on the type of developers and developments who seem to have too much influence on governments and authorities, planning methods need to be pragmatically and systemically overhauled and no longer can this small country, scarred with the results of poor building and developments all this Wild West way of doing things."
Raymond Havelock ● 3096d