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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think housing in this country is fundamentally broken?

432 replies

BrokenHousingLogic · 15/12/2025 15:25

Whether you rent privately, rent socially or own, it feels like the system isn’t really working for anyone.

• Rents are high and insecure
• Buying is out of reach for many
• Social housing is under strain
• Landlords and tenants feel pitted against each other
• Local authorities seem overwhelmed

It often feels like people are arguing with each other instead of addressing the fact that the whole structure is failing.

AIBU to think this goes beyond individual choices and points to a system-wide problem?

OP posts:
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5
XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:53

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:52

You're making it our business by keeping going on about it!

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How is a single person living in a one bed flat contributing to the housing crisis?

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:52

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:48

I know pensioners living in HMOs.
But that is not the fault of one person living in a one bed flat. If they can afford to live there, they are not pushing up prices and causing a housing crisis. Stop blaming the people who are not actually doing anything wrong. Me and my ex splitting and living in sperate one bed flats, that we paid for and could afford, is not fucking things up for everyone else.
Landlords are the ones pushing up prices.

Again, who is the target demographic for one one bed flats?

Edited
Show quote history

You're making it our business by keeping going on about it!

JenniferBooth · 27/12/2025 19:51

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:48

I know pensioners living in HMOs.
But that is not the fault of one person living in a one bed flat. If they can afford to live there, they are not pushing up prices and causing a housing crisis. Stop blaming the people who are not actually doing anything wrong. Me and my ex splitting and living in sperate one bed flats, that we paid for and could afford, is not fucking things up for everyone else.
Landlords are the ones pushing up prices.

Again, who is the target demographic for one one bed flats?

Edited
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I bet i can guess what the answer will be

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:48

taxguru · 27/12/2025 19:45

Lots of young single workers can only afford to live in HMOs and tiny bedsits because of the shortage of housing has pushed up costs to ridiculous levels.

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I know pensioners living in HMOs.
But that is not the fault of one person living in a one bed flat. If they can afford to live there, they are not pushing up prices and causing a housing crisis. Stop blaming the people who are not actually doing anything wrong. Me and my ex splitting and living in sperate one bed flats, that we paid for and could afford, is not fucking things up for everyone else.
Landlords are the ones pushing up prices.

Again, who is the target demographic for one one bed flats?

taxguru · 27/12/2025 19:45

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:42

A single person living in a one bed property is not contributing to the housing crisis, FFS. Who do you think one bed places are intended for?
Are single people only allowed to live in HMOs and tiny bedsits?

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Lots of young single workers can only afford to live in HMOs and tiny bedsits because of the shortage of housing has pushed up costs to ridiculous levels.

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:45

So as not to demonise one sector of the population, I will put my hand up and say that I am contributing to the problem: DH and I are rattling around in our five bedroom family home.

Longer life expectation and old folks not downsizing is a big contributor to the housing crisis.

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:42

taxguru · 27/12/2025 19:41

Regardless of who pays, they're still taking up two homes compared with a couple who stay together taking one home. That IS adding to the housing shortage crisis.

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A single person living in a one bed property is not contributing to the housing crisis, FFS. Who do you think one bed places are intended for?
Are single people only allowed to live in HMOs and tiny bedsits?

taxguru · 27/12/2025 19:41

Balletpoint · 27/12/2025 19:29

If someone splits and pays for their new home they are not adding to the housing crisis.

If someone splits and expects social housing they are adding to the housing crisis.

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Regardless of who pays, they're still taking up two homes compared with a couple who stay together taking one home. That IS adding to the housing shortage crisis.

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:40

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:39

They used to live in one house, and now they live in two.

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I lived in a flat with an ex. We split up. We both then lived in our own 1 bed flats. How is that wrong, and how is that contributing the housing crisis?

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:39

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:38

What do you mean?
If a couple lives in a one bedroom flat together, and then split up.... what is wrong with them living in a one bed flat each? You make no sense.

I used to live in a one bed flat with an ex. We split up. He stayed in the flat (he was there before me anyway) and I found a one bed flat that I lived in alone.
If that is somehow doing housing wrong, then you will need to spell it out to me how.

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They used to live in one house, and now they live in two.

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:38

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:38

What do you mean?
If a couple lives in a one bedroom flat together, and then split up.... what is wrong with them living in a one bed flat each? You make no sense.

I used to live in a one bed flat with an ex. We split up. He stayed in the flat (he was there before me anyway) and I found a one bed flat that I lived in alone.
If that is somehow doing housing wrong, then you will need to spell it out to me how.

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There's housebuilding going on everywhere!

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:38

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:36

One household into two?

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What do you mean?
If a couple lives in a one bedroom flat together, and then split up.... what is wrong with them living in a one bed flat each? You make no sense.

I used to live in a one bed flat with an ex. We split up. He stayed in the flat (he was there before me anyway) and I found a one bed flat that I lived in alone.
If that is somehow doing housing wrong, then you will need to spell it out to me how.

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:36

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:34

In some cases, a couple split and move from a one bed place into.... two separate one bed places. I am not sure how that is adding to the housing crisis.

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One household into two?

Balletpoint · 27/12/2025 19:35

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:32

I don't agree with that. A split takes up two house, regardless of who pays for them.

ETA, it might impact the affordability of appropriate housing.

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You don't think someone can spend their own money housing themselves?

tiredofchristmas · 27/12/2025 19:35

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:32

I don't agree with that. A split takes up two house, regardless of who pays for them.

ETA, it might impact the affordability of appropriate housing.

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If the government isn’t paying for 2 properties it has more funding to invest in building more socislmhousing (shame they have no real inclination to do this).

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:35

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:30

So a woman escaping domestic abuse is adding to the housing crisis if the council houses her?
You really hate women, don't you. That is so fucking sad.

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If general divorce (or whatever you want to call it) might account for around 20% of housing demands, those escaping domestic abuse will be an extremely small factor.

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:34

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:32

I don't agree with that. A split takes up two house, regardless of who pays for them.

ETA, it might impact the affordability of appropriate housing.

Edited
Show quote history

In some cases, a couple split and move from a one bed place into.... two separate one bed places. I am not sure how that is adding to the housing crisis.

Notmymarmosets · 27/12/2025 19:34

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:31

Counterproof?

Honestly, there are loads of academic and government papers. There's also common sense.

You mustn't take this personally. If you want to solve the housing crisis, you have to first define the problem. Divorce isn't the biggest factor, but it is meaningful.

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Absolutely. And you have the patience of a saint!

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:32

Balletpoint · 27/12/2025 19:29

If someone splits and pays for their new home they are not adding to the housing crisis.

If someone splits and expects social housing they are adding to the housing crisis.

Show quote history

I don't agree with that. A split takes up two house, regardless of who pays for them.

ETA, it might impact the affordability of appropriate housing.

Balletpoint · 27/12/2025 19:32

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:29

I do know men living alone in a 2 bed council flat/house because they have their kids stay every so often (and in some cases, half the time).

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That is an example of adding to the housing crisis.

To be clear, if you pay your own way you do not add to the housing crisis. This means no benefits including housing, no social housing and no council house.

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:31

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:27

Proof?

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Counterproof?

Honestly, there are loads of academic and government papers. There's also common sense.

You mustn't take this personally. If you want to solve the housing crisis, you have to first define the problem. Divorce isn't the biggest factor, but it is meaningful.

tiredofchristmas · 27/12/2025 19:31

Many issues are causing the housing crisis.

immigration
right to buy
lack of social housing
more single households
people living longer
second homes
airb&b
lack of housing policy
poor planning regs making it uneconomical for builders to build
Soaring cost of building materials and lack of skilled tradies
NIMBYs
ppor property tax policies
mortgage deregulation raising the amounts people can borrow
Intergenerational inequality.

the list is never ending. Couples living apart where in the past they would have lived together is one of many reasons as to why we have a housing shortage, yes.

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:30

Balletpoint · 27/12/2025 19:29

If someone splits and pays for their new home they are not adding to the housing crisis.

If someone splits and expects social housing they are adding to the housing crisis.

Show quote history

So a woman escaping domestic abuse is adding to the housing crisis if the council houses her?
You really hate women, don't you. That is so fucking sad.

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:29

CraftyGin · 27/12/2025 19:27

Define the problem before trying to solve it. You don't get many men holding the baby, do you (androgyny alert).

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I do know men living alone in a 2 bed council flat/house because they have their kids stay every so often (and in some cases, half the time).

Balletpoint · 27/12/2025 19:29

XenoBitch · 27/12/2025 19:24

Again, post proof to back up your claim that couples living apart is causing the housing crisis.
I will wait.

Show quote history

If someone splits and pays for their new home they are not adding to the housing crisis.

If someone splits and expects social housing they are adding to the housing crisis.