COUNCILLOR James Alexander (Letters, September 13) distorts the essence of what was said in my letter to which he responds.

I did say mortgages were calculated on the man’s wage, and I did say that in its way it was one of the reasons house prices were lower.

Hard-working families in York would be in a better position to buy a house if they were not in competition with “buy-to-rent” for students, something Cllr Alexander seems to be 100 per cent behind.

Hazel Ward, Badger Hill, York.