But thats trying to cure the symptom. The main problem is the lack of correct sized social housing. The bedroom tax forced people to downsize. In southwark th

But thats trying to cure the symptom. The main problem is the lack of correct sized social housing. The bedroom tax forced people to downsize. In southwark the most pressure of housing is for one and two bedroom properties. Most people were downsizing from 3+ into 2 or 1 bedroom places. If the price is too high, its not because of tax (3-5%) its because there isn't enough to go round. The lack of state rental housing means that there is increased pressure on private rental. There is no new supply of rental housing, which means that the existing stock becomes more valuable. This means that rental prices rise inline with the value of the housing stock. This is turn means that the direct cost to the government rises as well. Its literally cheaper to build council houses. However this will never happen because: 1) it involves borrowing money for the "poor" 2) it involves planning for something longer than two years 3) it will lower house prices for the very voters that got the tories into government. Nothing will change untill a crisis happens. And by crisis I mean the voting classes getting impacted.