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While I have extreme sympathy for renters and am not necessarily opposed to this, I would like to point out that this isn't a sliver bullet, nor does this addre

by kypro 3y ago

While I have extreme sympathy for renters and am not necessarily opposed to this, I would like to point out that this isn't a sliver bullet, nor does this address the root problem. All this legislation is going to do is increase risk for landlords and that increased risk will need to be passed on to renters. This will be attributed to "greedy landlords" by some, but it's just the inevitable consequence of adjusting economic incentives. The issue in reality is simply the supply and demand of housing in the UK. If you don't have enough supply of housing buyers are going to be screwed by high prices and renters are going to be screwed by unfavourable renting conditions. This is true of all markets where supply and demand are imbalanced, those who benefit from that imbalance tend to hold all the power. I'd personally prefer to see solutions aimed and solving the supply and demand of housing in the UK. If renters had options are were less desperate for housing then landlords wouldn't be so quick to evict people. That said, I seem to get so much hate whenever I try to discuss solutions to the housing crisis in the UK I understand why legislative hacks like this are realistically the only politically viable option.

dukeyukey 3y ago
To their credit housing has become a big issue in the UK over the last few months, probably thanks to increasing interest rates making mortgage holders feel the pain of high prices. Labour is doing a big push to allow more housing, and they actually have the power to do it with a gerneral election, thanks to the local elections.
tialaramex 3y ago
For decades UK governments have insisted they want to build enough homes, have publicly pledged to build those homes, and then of course ensured that the homes don't get built, ensuring they have a promise to give next time. The Tories are on net worse, but even past Labour governments did not meet their own targets. "We will build 100 000 homes" sounds great. But a week later, "Not these 60 on a nice old farm in a part of the country where our local MP is at risk" and then "OK, instead of 120 starter home what about 80 larger houses on that ex-industrial estate, so that the developer can make a bit more cash on luxury properties?" - hundreds of these local policy tweaks and before you know it your 100 000 homes are less than half that, but the need for housing didn't change. Demand rises, supply doesn't keep pace, effects predictable.

by kypro 3y ago

dukeyukey 3y ago

To their credit housing has become a big issue in the UK over the last few months, probably thanks to increasing interest rates making mortgage holders feel the pain of high prices. Labour is doing a big push to allow more housing, and they actually have the power to do it with a gerneral election, thanks to the local elections.

tialaramex 3y ago

For decades UK governments have insisted they want to build enough homes, have publicly pledged to build those homes, and then of course ensured that the homes don't get built, ensuring they have a promise to give next time. The Tories are on net worse, but even past Labour governments did not meet their own targets. "We will build 100 000 homes" sounds great. But a week later, "Not these 60 on a nice old farm in a part of the country where our local MP is at risk" and then "OK, instead of 120 starter home what about 80 larger houses on that ex-industrial estate, so that the developer can make a bit more cash on luxury properties?" - hundreds of these local policy tweaks and before you know it your 100 000 homes are less than half that, but the need for housing didn't change. Demand rises, supply doesn't keep pace, effects predictable.