GIVEN the shortage of housing, the price of private rented property is hardly surprising. However, Coun Tracy Simpson Laing can call for more affordable dwellings until she is blue in the face (Letters, September 24) but they will not be provided by a crippled house-building industry brought to its knees by excessive Government regulatory burdens.
The only way that substantial numbers of new social housing units are going to be provided is by the Government itself commissioning them and paying for them; just like they did in the inter-war years and after 1945. The current policy of extorting them from private enterprise has been an unmitigated disaster and is one of the main factors holding back economic recovery.
The recession will not end until house-builders start building again and that will not happen until government gets off the industry’s back.
Matthew Laverack, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel