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TL:DR - We're screwed - blame politicians on both sides. This is only going to get worse because the politicians are beneficiaries. One in three UK politician

TL:DR - We're screwed - blame politicians on both sides. This is only going to get worse because the politicians are beneficiaries. One in three UK politicians are landlords: https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/jan/14/mp-landlords-number-risen-quarter-last-parliament-housing-bill https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/jan/14/mp-l... One in three UK politicians has a significant percentage of their wealth dependent on rising house prices and rising rents which is why: 1. Help to buy schemes increase demand but not supply therefore increasing prices. 2. Large scale bulk buying of properties by dirty offshore money where apartments are not being rented out hasn't been stopped - its better to buy London property than pay for gold storage: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/31/inside-london-billionaires-row-derelict-mansions-hampstead https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/31/inside-londo... https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jun/13/foreign-investors-snapping-up-london-homes-suitable-for-first-time-buyers https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jun/13/foreign-inve... 3. Train prices in London are the most expensive in the world, so many will decide to spend more on rent and have the extra hours per day back than travel and pay almost the same price once train costs are factored in: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-39806865 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-39806865 4. Increased population growth into London due to political focus on the South East - 100,000 extra per year increasing demand : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3834825/London-s-population-growing-100-000-YEAR-immigration-high-birth-rate-turns-capital-megacity.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3834825/London-s-pop... 5. Not enough homes are being built to satisfy a single year's needs let alone the cumulative shortage: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/news/12127141/Fewer-homes-being-built-in-London-as-UK-house-building-falls-25pc-short-of-target.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/news/12127141/Fe... 6. One in six Baby Boomers (who are the generation that has caused the property problem) intend on spending the inheritance their children could use on a deposit or buying their home, and therefore may remain renting: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3818803/The-baby-boomers-spending-kids-inheritance-One-six-50-70-year-olds-say-plan-use-money-die.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3818803/The-baby-boo... The most depressing thing is that its starting elsewhere in the UK now because people see the UK as a good place to invest, and its gone crazy in the best cities in other English speaking countries - Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto etc.

isostatic 9y ago
> 1. Help to buy schemes increase demand but not supply therefore increasing prices. The biggest obstacle to buying a house is the requirement for a 10%, or even 5% deposit. 5% on a £300k house is £15k, which takes many years of trying to save while paying really high rents and seeing prices continue to increase. Once you get that deposit, you'll be paying far less on the mortgage. Many people buy using the 'bank of mum and dad' to get them out of the rent trap, or by living with mum and dad while they save for a deposit. This serves to increase wealth amongst the wealthy. Your daily mail link is blocked by my firewall, but if baby boomers are spending their money, that would be a good thing. > Train prices in London are the most expensive in the world And the most crowded. Any cheaper they'd be even more crowded. That said, a season ticket from Hastings is £448 a month, for 21 days of commuting on a 140 mile round trip, 15p/mile, not an unreasonable charge. From Tonbridge it's 18p/mile, reflecting the increased demand. > The most depressing thing is that its starting elsewhere in the UK now because people see the UK as a good place to invest, and its gone crazy in the best cities in other English speaking countries - Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto etc. Aukland's real estate prices was one of the factors that stopped us emmigrating. > 4. Increased population growth into London due to political focus on the South East - 100,000 extra per year increasing demand : The funny thing is many (not in London) people in the UK think 'immigration' is terrible, but don't even consider internal migration in the UK.

isostatic 9y ago

> 1. Help to buy schemes increase demand but not supply therefore increasing prices. The biggest obstacle to buying a house is the requirement for a 10%, or even 5% deposit. 5% on a £300k house is £15k, which takes many years of trying to save while paying really high rents and seeing prices continue to increase. Once you get that deposit, you'll be paying far less on the mortgage. Many people buy using the 'bank of mum and dad' to get them out of the rent trap, or by living with mum and dad while they save for a deposit. This serves to increase wealth amongst the wealthy. Your daily mail link is blocked by my firewall, but if baby boomers are spending their money, that would be a good thing. > Train prices in London are the most expensive in the world And the most crowded. Any cheaper they'd be even more crowded. That said, a season ticket from Hastings is £448 a month, for 21 days of commuting on a 140 mile round trip, 15p/mile, not an unreasonable charge. From Tonbridge it's 18p/mile, reflecting the increased demand. > The most depressing thing is that its starting elsewhere in the UK now because people see the UK as a good place to invest, and its gone crazy in the best cities in other English speaking countries - Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto etc. Aukland's real estate prices was one of the factors that stopped us emmigrating. > 4. Increased population growth into London due to political focus on the South East - 100,000 extra per year increasing demand : The funny thing is many (not in London) people in the UK think 'immigration' is terrible, but don't even consider internal migration in the UK.