Housing crisis

[lollipoprainbow]

Aibu to feel really angry about the housing situation in this country ?? I think it's terrible that tenants that privately rent only get 2 months to find somewhere else to live once issued with a section 21 surely in the current climate of a rental shortage it should be six months ?? I think it's awful that people can't get mortgages despite paying the same or less in rent each month. I think it's disgusting that 'affordable housing' is anything but for the normal low wage earning person. There is zero help for people working on a low wage. Sorry but I just need to vent, I want to complain but don't know who to !!

There is a 2 year wait for over 55 properties in the area that she lives in - also they are mostly 1 bed flats - in not great areas with no parking
She has 4 GC who frequently stay with her along with other friends and family who visit
A 2 bed terrace would be smallest property that would work

@DogsAndGin

There are 6 million spare bedrooms in the country.

The solution isn’t ‘build more houses’, the solution is to live in a house the right size for your family.

Fed up of old single people hoarding huge 5 bedroom family houses, whilst the new generation of young families squeeze into bedsits.

So what do you suggest? Forcing people to move every time their circumstances change? Someone's child moves out of the family home so now they must sell up and move to a smaller house? Should people not be allowed to have a spare bedroom?

@Blossomtoes

By the way there are 11 million mortgage holders in the UK, most households will be couples or families. Why do you expect them to be angry?

It’s entirely possible to be angry about something that doesn’t directly affect you. We own our house outright, the housing situation in this country infuriates me, it’s based on total greed. Yet, according to you, I shouldn’t give a shit.

You can do what you like.

According me and in response to PP comment, it’s clearly not a problem for majority of the 14.6 millions households where people are owner occupiers. Doesn’t make it any easier for those who are struggling to get on the property ladder, but it’s a fact nevertheless. That’s a very specific point in response to a very specific comment.

@sst1234 in other words 'I'm alright Jack' why bother commenting in the post at all ??

Once again, mortgage payment sizes now are not permanent and you have to be assessed and stress-tested at a high interest rate if you are going to have a 25/35 year mortgage.

@DogsAndGin

There are 6 million spare bedrooms in the country.

The solution isn’t ‘build more houses’, the solution is to live in a house the right size for your family.

Fed up of old single people hoarding huge 5 bedroom family houses, whilst the new generation of young families squeeze into bedsits.

But where does it end? I'm a (young-ish) "hoarder" of a large 5 bed family home? It was the only thing that didn't go for 20-25% above mortgageable value as it needed a lot of work done to it.

We have no children - are my partner and I immoral? Should it have been left on the market until a family with enough kids came along?

[quote nonononone]@JaceLancs Some areas seem to have sheltered housing availabilty for those over 55/60. If your friend registers with the local authority she has a reasonable chance of being housed. reasonable rents too.[/quote]
Most areas have these, not just some. They are not as popular as family houses either so more chance of getting one

Fed up of old single people hoarding huge 5 bedroom family houses, whilst the new generation of young families squeeze into bedsits

How many of them could afford a five bed house? The market value would be way out of reach of young families crammed into bedsits - if they couldn’t afford a two bed flat, where’s the money coming from for a huge house? It’s just more ageist boomer bashing.

There is no such thing as an accidental landlord.

No-one woke up one day and accidentally created a contract, had an EPC, gas Safe check, reported earnings to HMRC etc etc. You made a choice. It's a business.

We need mandatory training for all landlords, we need to stop seeing property as "safe investment". The amount of people who hoard houses because they don't trust financial institutions is massive. I see it all the time sadly. Even people who tell me they are putting it under their mattress because the banks will screw them over.

My only goal as a child was to own my own house so I wouldn't have to live on the council estate I grew up in with drugs, bin fires, flashers etc (not all council estates have these problems). I've worked very hard, was the first person in my family to even get GCSEs, then went on to A levels and a degree. I still can't afford to buy and I'm absolutely terrified of being cold and hungry like I was as a child because of energy prices. I feel just as powerless now as I did as a child.

@JaceLancs

There is a 2 year wait for over 55 properties in the area that she lives in - also they are mostly 1 bed flats - in not great areas with no parking She has 4 GC who frequently stay with her along with other friends and family who visit A 2 bed terrace would be smallest property that would work

Why? Sofa bed for visitors. Blow up mattress for grandchildren.

@Cocomarine I would have to go for a one bed if I can't get to stay in my place, Anything but temporary accommodation, beggars can't be choosers !!

That’s not entirely fair @AfraidToRun. I put my parents’ house up for sale in a flat market, although it got loads of viewings there were no offers. I didn’t want it standing empty over the winter as it would deteriorate so I rented it. It wasn’t a business, it was a decision made out of necessity.

I do wish I had a better understanding of economics.

There’s a development of 800 houses going up 5 mins drive from me. 1200 on the other side of the road, and 120 just up from that. All private companies, not one developer - but the usual, like Persimmon.

A small number will be HA as part of the terms of the planning permission.

Why can’t it just be the government who steps in and builds them all instead. Can they really not raise the money?

That’s 2120 homes that could be HA. We know that HA are not subsidised - they do cover the cost. No right to buy.

And reduce the 4 & 5 bed houses that are about 20% of the plan. Very few families need them.

@Cocomarine so bloody infuriating, where I am every time there's a plot of land available it's snapped up by greedy developers with the promise that some will be 'affordable housing' which is a damn lie. I got really excited when I heard that a company similar to IKEA were going to be building lots of starter homes near me, the prices were off the scale. Social housing went up opposite here where I rent with three shared ownership flats again when I looked into the costings there was no way I could afford it. It's utterly depressing and unfair.

The next operator of the national lottery needs to put every penny of profit into house building. The houses should be sold at cost to low income families and single people. 10 year rule to stay put. No sale for profit ever. Only buy other lottery housing for cost of more space needed.
Build in places like Abersoch - For locals.

How many ticket sales would that plan generate?

@Blossomtoes

Fed up of old single people hoarding huge 5 bedroom family houses, whilst the new generation of young families squeeze into bedsits

How many of them could afford a five bed house? The market value would be way out of reach of young families crammed into bedsits - if they couldn’t afford a two bed flat, where’s the money coming from for a huge house? It’s just more ageist boomer bashing.

But why can't families afford family homes? It may not the be the fault of individual boomer home owners, but as a cohort decades of housing policies have created this situation, and there's nothing us younger generations can do about it. It's not hard to understand why some of us are resentful.

How many of them could afford a five bed house? The market value would be way out of reach of young families crammed into bedsits - if they couldn’t afford a two bed flat, where’s the money coming from for a huge house? It’s just more ageist boomer bashing

Surely the question is why they can't afford it? or why have wages been so devalued?

@fogglez

How many of them could afford a five bed house? The market value would be way out of reach of young families crammed into bedsits - if they couldn’t afford a two bed flat, where’s the money coming from for a huge house? It’s just more ageist boomer bashing

Surely the question is why they can't afford it? or why have wages been so devalued?

At this is what people fail to grasp. We need a high productivity economy with higher wages. Not more reliance on welfare and subsidies because people are not being paid well. The default position on everything has become to call for more handouts, rather than insisting on a structural fix to the culture of low pay.

I agree. The hand outs have stopped employers paying as well as they rely on the government to supplement wages and minimum wage prevents people climbing a ladder - surely an employee with 2 years experience deserves more than a new starter?

We need a high productivity economy with higher wages

absolutely

There are large amounts of council owned land lying empty where schools have been knocked down but the council prefer to leave the land empty in the hope of selling it instead if building new homes on it

Most councils would love to build new homes instead of paying huge amounts to keep homeless families in B&Bs and properties leased from private landlords. They can't often get permission to borrow the money they need to do so, because the government won't grant it.

Most of the (few) new council properties in my area have been built by private developers as a condition of the planning permission granted to build new homes to sell.

@Blossomtoes

Fed up of old single people hoarding huge 5 bedroom family houses, whilst the new generation of young families squeeze into bedsits

How many of them could afford a five bed house? The market value would be way out of reach of young families crammed into bedsits - if they couldn’t afford a two bed flat, where’s the money coming from for a huge house? It’s just more ageist boomer bashing.

I think the poster means those in council/HA properties with more bedrooms than needed

But why can't families afford family homes?

Same reason as was always the case - because they don’t earn enough. The difference is that social housing used to pick up the slack.

It may not the be the fault of individual boomer home owners, but as a cohort decades of housing policies have created this situation, and there's nothing us younger generations can do about it. It's not hard to understand why some of us are resentful

There’s nothing those of us who are older could have done about it either. We had no more power back then than you do now. You’re resenting the wrong people - blame the politicians, they’re the ones with the power to change things.

Same reason as was always the case - because they don’t earn enough.

I don't think it's the same as the past at all when you look at earnings & earnings vs house prices. Agree not enough social housing though.

You’re resenting the wrong people - blame the politicians, they’re the ones with the power to change things.

But politicians & policies are voted in aren't they. I mean I don't blame Brexit only on politicians but those who voted for it.

But politicians & policies are voted in aren't they. I mean I don't blame Brexit only on politicians but those who voted for it.

You’re making the classic assumption that every voter over a certain age votes Tory and always has. I never have and would sooner eat my own liver. I get very angry when I get blamed for a bloody awful situation that is nothing to do with me and which I’d change in a heartbeat if I could.