We bought our first house in the early seventies. Prior to that we had lived for a year in a caravan close to the beach which was wonderful in summer and pretty dire in the winter. We had almost no money and to buy a house was huge step. It cost us five thousand pounds and was a tiny terraced house without central heating or a decent bathroom or even running hot water. We took out a 90% mortgage and raided meagre savings to fund the rest. It was a step on the ladder however and we made the most of it. We had pretty low expectations I suppose and that was the way that we had grown up.
Things are no easier today. Our son wants to buy a house rather than continue to plough vast sums of cash into the bank of a landlord who manages to raise the rent every single year and who also requires that they pay a sum of money just to renew a contract.
Many MPs are landlords and recently they failed to pass a bill that would have made landlords maintain their properties to a decent standard. In the same week the tories are planning to demolish the sink estates, selling the sites to their friends and ensuring that affordable accommodation is becoming a thing of the past.
Buying property in London is already pretty much beyond most young people and property is being snapped up by companies and foreign investors, pushing the price of a basic property above the half a million threshold. Even here in Kent it is hard to find a place less than 400,000 pounds and this is just silly money.
Mr Cameron and his friends have little idea as to what is meant by affordable, as to those with their hands on the reins, everything is affordable.
Things are no easier today. Our son wants to buy a house rather than continue to plough vast sums of cash into the bank of a landlord who manages to raise the rent every single year and who also requires that they pay a sum of money just to renew a contract.
Many MPs are landlords and recently they failed to pass a bill that would have made landlords maintain their properties to a decent standard. In the same week the tories are planning to demolish the sink estates, selling the sites to their friends and ensuring that affordable accommodation is becoming a thing of the past.
Buying property in London is already pretty much beyond most young people and property is being snapped up by companies and foreign investors, pushing the price of a basic property above the half a million threshold. Even here in Kent it is hard to find a place less than 400,000 pounds and this is just silly money.
Mr Cameron and his friends have little idea as to what is meant by affordable, as to those with their hands on the reins, everything is affordable.
1 comment:
When you mentioned your first house, I can recall going through exactly what you guys did. We lived in our Bug Van for months on the beach and used public showers to stay clean. I remember those days fondly, something the kids of today will never experience. I can also relate to the disappearance of property in your area because of big business.
Post a Comment