SIR – There’s lots of talk about the housing crisis today, of perennial shortages in both ‘affordable’ private or social kinds which is undoubtedly exacerbated by mass immigration, particularly from the EU which can neither be controlled nor halted in spite of what the politicians say.
But what of the future, as the evidence already exists of runaway house price inflation which even in my lifetime has caused, such as the home my parents bought in 1957 at just £1,500 when dad was earning about £14 a week to now be valued not worth 100 times more, ie, £150,000!
Even the one I bought in 1972 for £3,000 on a wage of £45 a week was re-sold by another in the last five years for £142,000 – still a very substantial increase compared to wages.
Fast-forward another 30 years and our grandchildren, some just babies today, could be faced with the £1 million semi! Even if unable to buy at that price, just what would rents be for a similar property as they also rise in line with capital values unlike wages?
Now age 71 myself, I am glad I won’t be around to witness that kind of misery, but have to ask myself what on earth have politicians done or rather not done to allow things to get so desperate. And will it ever change?
D S Boyes, Upper Rodley Lane, Leeds.
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