I hope that parts (not all) of the political left that focus on this "exploitation by profitable property developers" narrative soon realize that this is a harm

I hope that parts (not all) of the political left that focus on this "exploitation by profitable property developers" narrative soon realize that this is a harmful framing of the situation. The left underwent a transformation in the early 1900s, when they first wanted to ban alcohol sales because they viewed the situation as greedy alcohol producers exploiting vulnerable alcoholics. It was part of the activism behind the prohibition movement in the US, according to Smashing the Liquor Machine, and it was the policy of the Bolsheviks early on to ban vodka for the same reasons. The narrative was a social justice one. Eventually they correctly realized that prohibition did more harm than good to vulnerable people, and the social justice stance nowadays (which I agree with) is to decriminalize. Building affordable market housing is not parasitical. If developers are making abnormal profits, then sure, look at ways to regulate (or deregulate, if barriers are the reason for monopoly profits) and improve competition. But do not prevent building market rate housing. You can even build public housing in addition to market rate housing, if you want to. As long as you're not putting up barriers to construction.