If it then becomes affordable for locals that’s fine or is renovated and goes into social housing or something that serves a purpose other than making some rich boy richer
However, if landlords drive up costs and provide no stability for tenants it makes saving for a deposit impossible. Social housing would be a better option for many and provides more rights. It’s is the norm in other countries but has been made into a problematic concept. I can see a purpose in having private options mixed with social options to allow choice and there are circumstances where for example two separated couples decide to cohabit and may need a house for ‘insurance’ if it goes wrong, but tenants should have the right to affordable stability and a space to develop their deposit not fund someone else’s greed at the cost of another’s so it needs the state to create a fair balance. Stable housing is so crucial in the journey of a person it can’t be just seen as a profitable commodity. Also the housing ‘market’ (which is largely obnoxious tbh) requires availability to create affordability. Don’t get me into air b and b’s.
Tim Farron was on about people buying up all the house in our villages ( the Lakes ) and there being none for our kids to buy. I asked who is selling them the houses? Would you be ok if I offered you £350,000 for yours and you turn down the £500,000 offer from someone wanting it for a holiday home, no, thought not you bloody hypocrite. There’s houses built in our village for only local people but that only lasts a few years and then anyone seems to by them, most are for rent now. Another sham scheme. Our starter homes start at £200.000 That’s probably six or 7 times a youngans salary. Most kids would be happy with a lounge, bathroom, and kitchen on the ground floor with a mezzanine that you can stick a double bed on. Sounds simple £80,000 should do it, that’s when the council get involved and told to f uck off by the builders, so none get built Nothing is that simple once the council are involved.
Starter home: £200,000 Average age first time buyer: 37 Medium UK salary: £34,000 Deposit of 10%: £20,000 Current annual rate: 5.5% Mortgage length: 25 years (age of 62 when it ends) Repayments: £1,106 per month
Leaves you with around £1400 a month for Council tax Car payments Car tax Car insurance Car maintenance Petrol Electric Gas Food Clothes Doable ??
https://www.reed.co.uk/tax-calculator/34000-annually 34,000 pa 4286 income tax 2143 NI Take home: 27571 per month: 2297 after mortgage: 1191 gas + elec (national average): 160 council tax (band b, second cheapest), 150 car insurance (average comprehensive): 75 (900 pa) car payment: 200 car tax and maintenance are specific, hard to find data on averages. food: 200 I think it's just about doable, but a bit depressing, there is really a very limited scope for savings, you can probably squeeze out a holiday here and there and buy a few nice things for the house and yourself. 25 years and you're a 62 year old man finally free. personally I don't think this is a vision you can sell to people for happiness. I don't know what needs to change but something does.
I have to say Sunak looks much happier in opposition than as PM ... ... he always looked like he knew neither side liked him.
Don’t think for a minute that he thought the Rwanda programme was ethical or workable. Don’t believe for a minute that Starmer thinks we should be selling arms to blow up children/people in Gaza who’ve done nothing but run away. It’s weird/ horrible how people will do obnoxious things for power.
I’ve never really understood how they are any better off when they have more power. Most of them have trousered enough money to last 50 lifetimes, like Putin if he wins the war he has a price on his head from any assassin, hard to understand how that makes you feel any better.
I don't get the feeling Starmer is in it for the money or the attention ... ... I truly hope I'm right, I believe he wants to serve.
That’s the same feeling I have, hope I’m right. At the moment it definitely feels different, time will tell.
I think I generally agree but he’s accepted some questionable things during the campaign period to get elected I’d say. Hoping he’ll be a bit more assertive going forward. It’s an odd thing about our democracy/country that you can’t be ethical or it’s unpopular or seen as weak Saddens me tbh. The telegraph are saying the bloke from Timpsons (his brother was a Tory) is the enemy of the state because he helps offenders to develop resilience.
Not defending Thatcher or Cameron here but surely Boris Johnson is a ‘world leader’ in self interest.
