Quote:
Originally Posted by nomadking
As I pointed out, the properties bought purely for investment are high-end ones, so no real impact on availability. People are living in the social housing that was sold off, so again no impact. Enough are being built, but you can't let in this many people for there not to be a problem. Especially when so many of them make no real contribution to the country, apart from the crime rates and benefits bill.
|
The land and labour required to build them could be better utilised if people were prevented from buying them to stay empty. This activity is also contributing to the gentrification of businesses who have traded for many years who are being forced to close.
Most council houses that were sold off cheap are now in the hands of private landlords charging much higher rents than the council, thus increasing the Housing Benefit bill even more.
Even the Government has said it intends to take action because it recognises that not enough affordable homes are being built.
I do agree that unfettered immigration has bound to have pushed up demand for homes and fuelled house prices upwards.