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The population is only 20% of the problem -> look at Berlin, it's population has grown 0.3% over the past 30 years, but the house prices have gone stratospheric

The population is only 20% of the problem -> look at Berlin, it's population has grown 0.3% over the past 30 years, but the house prices have gone stratospheric just like they have in every other major city. 40% of the housing problem is whatever the fuck is going on in the banking system -> it enables us to commit all of our life savings for the rest of our productive lives to pay for a roof over our heads. It's like a hostage situation with the highest bidder. > You would probably have to demolish large areas of London and replace them with high-density housing to match demand - but obviously that's never going to happen. So true, my friend is not even allowed to raise your roof by 20 cm to create an extra room in the loft. The planning system here is so crazy, I am confident it's like 40% of the problem.

thrashh 4y ago
The price going up has probably reduced population growth though, so pointing to low growth but high prices doesn’t tell us that much. Not to say that there isn’t something else going on.
- piva00 4y ago
  Pointing to low growth and high prices tell us that isn't simple supply and demand pushing the prices up. Berlin even more as large swaths of the city are still underdeveloped after losing 2 million inhabitants since the 1940s-1950s. How can Berlin, a city with ample free space and free buildings still see a massive increase in housing prices if it was a simple issue of supply and demand? There's undoubtedly something else much fishier going on.
  - thereisnospork 4y ago
    (American POV): Here in most places it is because supply is suppressed by government policy and the planning and approval process. Want to add a room to your house? That could be 10's of thousands in planning fees if it is even allowed and it still could be denied. Want to turn your laundromat into an apartment complex? Denied: the proposal will cast shadows across a lot where the city is thinking of building a playground for a local school[0]. Overall its very much in the interests of those who own property to keep more from being built and they naturally act for those interests. [0]Not hyperbole - this is an actual example.
misslibby 4y ago
I would also not trust that number of 0.3% population growth. Were did you get it from? There are a lot of refugees from Ukraine, for example, which may have given prices another boost in the last year.

thrashh 4y ago

The price going up has probably reduced population growth though, so pointing to low growth but high prices doesn’t tell us that much. Not to say that there isn’t something else going on.

piva00 4y ago
Pointing to low growth and high prices tell us that isn't simple supply and demand pushing the prices up. Berlin even more as large swaths of the city are still underdeveloped after losing 2 million inhabitants since the 1940s-1950s. How can Berlin, a city with ample free space and free buildings still see a massive increase in housing prices if it was a simple issue of supply and demand? There's undoubtedly something else much fishier going on.
- thereisnospork 4y ago
  (American POV): Here in most places it is because supply is suppressed by government policy and the planning and approval process. Want to add a room to your house? That could be 10's of thousands in planning fees if it is even allowed and it still could be denied. Want to turn your laundromat into an apartment complex? Denied: the proposal will cast shadows across a lot where the city is thinking of building a playground for a local school[0]. Overall its very much in the interests of those who own property to keep more from being built and they naturally act for those interests. [0]Not hyperbole - this is an actual example.

misslibby 4y ago

I would also not trust that number of 0.3% population growth. Were did you get it from? There are a lot of refugees from Ukraine, for example, which may have given prices another boost in the last year.