House Prices

[Scarlett]

I am so depressed at the state of housing in this country. I live in a city where there are many students, so every flat or house has been bought by a landlord (builder) and converted it into a student house. If you are a single 40-something adult like me, there are only one bed flats for £850+. That is simply too much to be able to afford on a normal wage. It really worries me. All animals need a hutch, nest, hole in the ground, somewhere they can retreat to and call their own. Humans are no different. At the moment I have to share a flat with a girl who is no relative and not really a friend. It is a convenient flat share. We both can't afford to get our own places- she is 32. The system seems to be that you have to lump it until you either have a baby or move in with a boyfriend. That is not likely to happen to either of us, and I have no desire to continue living with her! Is this the same situation in your home town? What do single middle aged people do?!

[Larkspurfairy]

Move to Wales. Much cheaper all round.

[whiskeryron]

I really sympathise with you & I know your plight is shared by many young people. I presume you are living in London & can only suggest that you move to a cheaper part of the country where you may find cheaper accommodation. The problem of course is then finding work. An alternative would be to find accommodation with a nice family somewhere who have a spare room which could turn out cheaper for you.

[ummmm]

It's shocking nowadays. The house across the road from me is up for £275k. What youngish couple can afford that?

[Scarlett]

Thing is, I'm not young! I'm 46! I don't want to be a lodger, or share anymore. I have done that since I was 18, and all I want is my own place which is affordable, but that is now a contradiction in terms. I am close to London and my work is all tied up here. Also I am disabled and on some benefits so it is hard to find suitable accommodation- although there is plenty of cheap flats around for those over 55! Where do the low-paid single nurses and teachers live? the system is pressurising us to pair up, as until then we stand no chance of being able to afford anywhere. The chances of me pairing up are even less than that!

[ummmm]

That must be very frustrating.

[ubasses]

Have you looked at shared ownership.
https://www.sharetobuy.com/firststeps

[New Judge]

It won't help your problem but the issue is not too few houses - there are too many people. The UK is vastly overpopulated and it cannot reasonably be expected to cope with normal growth as well as net migration of a million plus every three years. It is simply unsustainable.

University towns do not help. UK universities have increased in number alarmingly in the last twenty years (since that nice Mr Blair declared that 50% of young people should attend). This has attracted enormous numbers of overseas students, all of whom must be accommodated somewhere.

It is not the housing policy that is at fault. It is policies that allow vast numbers of people needing accommodation to be allowed to settle here.

[Scarlett]

New Judge, yes. But also the problem is the estate agents pushing up the prices. My flat is £685 a month- very cheap for the area and has not risen for 6 years; it is also incredibly small for 2 unlinked people. Neither of us can have a social life, basically. The same size flats in the same building are now being advertised for £950 pcm. This is totally ridiculous. There is no way I could afford that, and I don't see how any other single person could either! It is the estate agents being greedy, advertising houses for more than they are worth.

[sandyRoe]

They're worth what people will pay for them.

[ummmm]

I think the landlords also play a part in that.

[Scarlett]

OH yes, the landlord isn't going to ask for a lower rent in order to help out the tenant!

[Maydup]

Are you on the housing list Scarlett? it might take a while, but you're name will come up eventually, especially if you are disabled.

[Peter Pedant]

Many houses to rent at £500 p c m in Manchester

900 for a *** flat sounds like London

[Peter Pedant]

oh, does small and rhymes with smokey - merit three stars ?

[EDDIE51]

This sounds like Cambridge! Just up the road from me.I have no solutions it is going to get a lot worse.Over 9,000 new jobs being created in Cambridge and already a huge housing shortage. A new science park is in the process of being built just beside Addenbrokes hospital. Then there are the students from all over the world needing accommodation.

[tamborine]

Our hospitals have bedsits in nurse blocks at reduced market rents. Teachers share homes rented & subsidised by school. Occupants work till retirement when council provide accommodation.

Not everyone owns their homes; that can be a blasted burden of costs.

[Maydup]

Check here options to buy with support

https://www.sharetobuy.com/firststeps

[bednobs]

the reason your hospital has reduced rents Tmbo, is tht no-one wants to work there because of it's shocking reputtion. I saw a job advertised there last week, where they were offering £2k bribe to start. This ws just an ordinary job!

[New Judge]

If there is a shortage of things that people want the price goes up, Scarlett. It's called supply and demand. The reason there are too few houses is that there are that there are too many people. And there are too many people for the reasons I outlined earlier.

Successive governments have presided over this irresponsibility. The country needs to develop a growth model that does not rely on population growth that is unsustainable. And there is no sign of any politicians advocating that.

[Old_Geezer]

The country needs to develop a shrink model and ensure it's needed.
Bit of a long term correction though.