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I recognise the problems with home ownership, and agree that affordable rent may even be the answer for some people that don't want that responsibility, but the

I recognise the problems with home ownership, and agree that affordable rent may even be the answer for some people that don't want that responsibility, but the solution of "10 storey buildings" just isn't the answer. Case in point: the Sydney apartment building disaster. Multiple apartment buildings with problems, losing tons of money by having to move out of cracking/leaking/structurally unsound buildings. And almost no support or compensation coming their way. Unfortunately, strata based housing many times results in developers extorting "owners" with fees, little to no maintenance (or just the bare minimum), cutting corners on building, and so on. At least with home ownership you know exactly what you need to do, and if it doesn't get done then it's your own fault. Even renting a house is better, because you can very clearly see if things are wrong. An apartment building is harder to get a clear overall picture of. Walls sinking? Foundations cracking? Ceilings dipping? Roof leaking? You can usually only see some of these issues in any given apartment depending on what floor you're on, how big your apartment is, etc.

maxander 7y ago
If you you want “affordable rents,” you have two options; high density or long commutes. And high density means large buildings. There’s just geometrically no way to supply a SF/NYC/Boston level city primarily through detached homes. It’s on cities to solve the problems you describe, usually through housing inspection and tenant rights law.
nikita2206 7y ago
All sorts of market inequalities including when developers cut corners can be fixed by proper regulation and oversight. At the end of the day the cooperatives of people who want to build a few-story home together and they hire a managing company that will direct the building but they will be able to oversee the books should be the winning strategy imo. It just takes more involment from each tenant during construction but ultimately that’s the only way you can be sure that something is done the way you want it - oversee it yourself. It is a burden obviously but given the stakes I think it’s justifiable.

maxander 7y ago

If you you want “affordable rents,” you have two options; high density or long commutes. And high density means large buildings. There’s just geometrically no way to supply a SF/NYC/Boston level city primarily through detached homes. It’s on cities to solve the problems you describe, usually through housing inspection and tenant rights law.

nikita2206 7y ago

All sorts of market inequalities including when developers cut corners can be fixed by proper regulation and oversight. At the end of the day the cooperatives of people who want to build a few-story home together and they hire a managing company that will direct the building but they will be able to oversee the books should be the winning strategy imo. It just takes more involment from each tenant during construction but ultimately that’s the only way you can be sure that something is done the way you want it - oversee it yourself. It is a burden obviously but given the stakes I think it’s justifiable.