Helen Lewis is absolutely right to compare Brown`s
"client state" of public sector workers with the Tories` creation of "one of
their own", the "owner-occupiers" (Notebook,19th February,2016). Of course, the
government`s housing policy, which has the effect of turning 90% of under 35s
into "permanent renters", is unfair, but it does also mean that Generation Rent
should not only vote anti-Tory in 2020, but, if Corbyn and co, play their cards
properly, should also become Labour`s own "client state".
It means Labour has to flesh out its housing
policies, with pledges to build more social housing, along with proposals which
end the current exploitation. With private renters paying around 40% or more of
their income on housing, would the economy not be better served by reducing
rents, thereby freeing up income for expenditure elsewhere?
Rents in the
private sector have increased by more than 8% on average in the past year. One in three of rented properties in the private sector is officially
classed as "non-decent", whilst one in five present a health or safety risk to
the occupier. A solution would be for
councils to be given funding to set up an Ofsted-style organisation, given the
task of inspecting all rental property and banding it, according to size,
condition, location, facilities and safety. The rent to be charged would have to
be within the confines determined by the band, with annual increases decided by
the council.
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