John Harris’s article on poverty and housing in the UK’s hinterlands is both moving and a vital element of the combined analytical framework that describes the situation in modern Britain (A waiting list of thousands, and just five new homes for social rent: this city shows the depth of Britain’s housing crisis, 19 October).
Harris notes, though, that “On the upside, the renters’ rights bill … is about to receive royal assent”. I appreciate the sentiment, but it misses two vital points. First, does anyone believe that a bill imagined by the previous Tory government and written by this current Labour one will be effectively worded and enforced? This would require courage and competence.
Second, and more importantly, the new bill actively alienates landlords rather than viewing them as partners in a process of reciprocal and mutual need. Yes, some are overseas investors, but many are not, and are perhaps safeguarding against inadequate pensions despite having worked for decades in one of the world’s largest economies.
Ultimately, there is capital out there for responsible low-level investors to build affordable housing which can be rented via councils. Such an undertaking would require political skill to implement, but it might help if the Guardian promoted such solutions rather than penalising one side by supporting the other.
Simon Sheridan
London
I never forget being eight months pregnant and having to live in an unheated former classroom in a closed school. Now two of my children are in their 40s and still homeless, priced out of the housing market and living on narrowboats.
We are all dismayed at the rents and unaffordable house prices in this city, but do not want one of the very things that keeps us mentally and physically healthy – the green belt – to be covered over. Most housing being built now on the green belt is not affordable and very little is social housing. Our Labour council has sold off many council properties aimed at single occupation near the city centre. As in many cities, there are lots of empty shops and offices.
Rather than building housing that is unaffordable to most, the council should oversee and encourage imaginative conversion of these buildings in city centres, where there are already community resources. Homes are crucial for wellbeing, as are communities.
The housing market should not just be left to developers and shareholder profiteers.
Nuala Young
Oxford
It is difficult to imagine a Labour government actively seeking to intensify the housing crisis, yet that is exactly what it is doing. As John Harris points out, a large proportion of new housing in Liverpool is being bought by foreign investors to rent to locals. There are plans to let developers in London reduce the proportion of affordable housing from 35% to 20%.
A home is generally regarded as affordable if it costs less than 3.5 times annual income. But house prices are 7.7 times the average income in England, and up to 11 times in London.
Even in the unlikely event that the government delivers 1.5m homes, virtually none of them will be genuinely affordable, making even private rental unaffordable. The only way forward is to dramatically increase the provision of social and not-for-profit housing tenures.
Geoffrey Payne
Author of Somewhere to Live
