The 'Shadow Housing Market'. Artificial housing crisis leads to SLUMS

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27123966

Thousands of people in London are living in hidden homes - often in disturbing conditions - because they cannot afford to live elsewhere.

 

The BBC has found people paying to live in shop storerooms, above car repair garages, on industrial estates and in former warehouses.

 

This shadow housing market is causing London Fire Brigade "grave concerns".

 

In the past nine months, firefighters have attended 36 fires in such places and two people have died.

 

Carlo moved to London from

As the housing conditions of the people worsen in this long, drawn out, artificial, rentier driven housing crisis, we see the formation of slums.

It can not be long now, before this artificial crisis leads to contagious disease, one can only hope it leads to rentiers to act in their own self interest, by improving the housing condition of their neo-serfs to avoid the spread of disease which does not know class boundary based upon flawed property rights and a failing system that enforces them.

Either that, or people start demanding reform of the system and we start building council houses, or even allow people to build their own houses.

Ideally, we build decent housing, and stop subsidising idle rentiers at the expense of workers and the landless in particular, but wider society as a whole.

What do you think?

Do you think people should be living in down right disgracefully poor housing in the UK in the 21st century? Or decent housing?

Do you think we should have a society that reward idle rentiers discourages productive investment, and force workers into unemployment and abject poverty? Or do you think we should be improving the living conditions of the masses?

No-one is forcing them to live in London, there's still plenty of jobs up North and much cheaper rent prices.

Unless they're here illegally, but thats another problem.

No-one is forcing them to live in London, there's still plenty of jobs up North and much cheaper rent prices.

 

Unless they're here illegally, but thats another problem.

People require somewhere to live. Any restrictions placed upon them when it comes to housing, enrich those with property, at the expense of those without.

Poor housing is a symptom of an unjust system. The system needs to be reformed. Forcing people to move up North will not solve the problem.

No-one is forcing them to live in London, there's still plenty of jobs up North and much cheaper rent prices.

 

Unless they're here illegally, but thats another problem.

I agree. They are choosing to live in one of the most expensive cities in the world. If they can't afford to live there, they should move somewhere they can afford.

As well as improving the living conditions of the masses, I think the national government needs to address the fundamental issue which is skewing economic and social policy: which is to somehow redress the depressed North / overheated South divide.

Not sure how it might be done though

No-one is forcing them to live in London, there's still plenty of jobs up North and much cheaper rent prices.

 

Unless they're here illegally, but thats another problem.

Is our housing crisis caused by 'illegal immigrants' ?

People require somewhere to live. Any restrictions placed upon them when it comes to housing, enrich those with property, at the expense of those without.

 

Poor housing is a symptom of an unjust system. The system needs to be reformed. Forcing people to move up North will not solve the problem.

Indeed. Wasn't it Norman Tebbitt that told the unemployed to get on their bikes and look for work - Go down to London & you'll hear many accents from all over these Isles (and from all over the world).

Is our housing crisis caused by 'illegal immigrants' ?

No, but they may be more open to living in the 'shadow market' if it's an 'off the books' arrangement.

If so you shouldn't be building housing to solve the problem, you should round the buggers up and throw them out.

The Australian system works pretty well, I'm sure we can broker a similar deal??

I agree. They are choosing to live in one of the most expensive cities in the world. If they can't afford to live there, they should move somewhere they can afford.

Where are firemen, teachers, police, nurses, shopworkers, and all those other essential London workers who don't own houses or earn exhorbitant salaries supposed to live when rents are so high?

at the same time Oligarchs are buying up multiple properties as a tax dodge and just letting them rot.

It's all wrong....

Where are firemen, teachers, police, nurses, shopworkers, and all those other essential London workers who don't own houses or earn exhorbitant salaries supposed to live when rents are so high?

Probably living on the outskirts of London with the millions of other residents and commuting in.

You are right to say that not everyone earns huge salaries BUT it is also perfectly possible to find somewhere to live for a more modest price also.

There seems to be a complete untruth fuelled by the media and left wing organisations that everywhere in London is out of reach and unaffordable. It isnt. SOME parts are but so are some parts of lots of places.

There are places to live in London at more "normal" prices - however the sacrifice is that money simply does not go as far. The cost of a shoebox apartment equates to a house in another city. The money that gets you on the outskirts could get you in the city centre elsewhere.

But, quite frankly - so what? You live in a Capital city anywhere in the world and it will always come with a catch. You dont like it? - move.

Sheffield is more expensive than Barnsley. Central Manchester is more expensive than Central Sheffield. Wakefield is cheaper than Leeds.

Its nothing new.

Having lived in London on a very modest salary I can say that my rental - whilst not much space for the money - was still very much affordable.

There are 2 bedroomed properties within 10 miles of Kings Cross starting from as little as £70k. There are 1 bedroom apartments to rent in similar locations from as little as £300 per month rental.

It is very much possible for those who look hard enough. As with everything nobody is owed a lifestyle.