On her high horse - first posting
Hello - this is my first posting. Welcome to "on her high horse". The reason for the name is that my family always says "she's on her high horse again", when I begin to deliver one of my crazy theories about the way the world should be. So, to save my family from further distress, I will henceforth air my views on my blog.
Crazy idea for a better way to run the world - no.1:
I have been mulling this one over for some time - but the recent fire in Paris brought it to my attention again. In the UK - and clearly in Paris too - there is a shortage of affordable housing. This is caused by a few people who buy up many properties and force house prices beyond what is affordable by most people. These people then rent out the properties. They can charge a high rent - because the renters cannot afford to buy - and the owners have little incentive to keep the properties at a high standard because they have a captive market. Those who can't afford to buy end up living in badly-maintained, yet expensive, housing. There are some laws in Britain to protect renters - but often they seem to have little effect.
If everyone was limited to owning one house each - house prices would fall - and more people would be able to afford to buy a house.
Problem #1 - Families with one home would end up with houses that were worth much less than their mortgage - and so the law would also punish them.
Solution - Bring the law in gradually so that the effect was not immediate. Possibly introduce some government compensation (for one house only).
Problem #2 - Some people would still need to rent - who could rent houses to them?
Solution - Allow people over 65 to own more than one house. They could rent out houses - and supplement their pensions - thus the pensions crisis would also be somewhat alleviated. The number of houses they could own, of course, would still have to be limited.
Crazy idea for a better way to run the world - no.1:
I have been mulling this one over for some time - but the recent fire in Paris brought it to my attention again. In the UK - and clearly in Paris too - there is a shortage of affordable housing. This is caused by a few people who buy up many properties and force house prices beyond what is affordable by most people. These people then rent out the properties. They can charge a high rent - because the renters cannot afford to buy - and the owners have little incentive to keep the properties at a high standard because they have a captive market. Those who can't afford to buy end up living in badly-maintained, yet expensive, housing. There are some laws in Britain to protect renters - but often they seem to have little effect.
If everyone was limited to owning one house each - house prices would fall - and more people would be able to afford to buy a house.
Problem #1 - Families with one home would end up with houses that were worth much less than their mortgage - and so the law would also punish them.
Solution - Bring the law in gradually so that the effect was not immediate. Possibly introduce some government compensation (for one house only).
Problem #2 - Some people would still need to rent - who could rent houses to them?
Solution - Allow people over 65 to own more than one house. They could rent out houses - and supplement their pensions - thus the pensions crisis would also be somewhat alleviated. The number of houses they could own, of course, would still have to be limited.
posted by high_horse at 6:10 PM
3 Comments:
All of the following is off the top of my head.
Not sure that I agree with your family saying "she's on her high horse again", but then that's just me.
I like crazy theories as they are not as narrow as the conservative views of certain people.
We have the same sort of problem here in Australia.
A question, are there houses that are derilect and abandonned in England or France that are not being used at the moment? If so could they be put to use? And if it is a problem of them not being habitable could they be renovated by the people learning those trades (apprenticeships)? i.e. plumbers, brick layers, plasterers etc
Would that be one house per family or would that be one house per person? As in Mrs & Mr Bloggs can only own one house or they can own one house each.
Yes, there would need to be a way to keep the house values to a certain standard.
Problem #2 - Could the government rent the housing to the people who could not afford to purchase.
The government would not be in it for a profit. The rent would be there purely to help maintain the houses to a certain level and the people who rent can then add more if they want there housing to be of a better standard.
I like your idea about the apprentices - that is also an area I think needs more attention. There aren't enough apprentices in those trades.
My idea would be that Mr and Mrs Bloggs would be able to own one house each if they wanted - but not be able to rent either out. That way if they worked in different places - it would not be a problem - and it would not be an incentive not to get married. (Sorry for the double negative).
The government could of course also own and rent out houses to those who needed them. But I also like the pension idea - because I think it would also give some respect and power back to the elderly.
Again off the top of my head
Thank you.
I believe that apprentices and students in learning institutes could be utilised better so that they get real life experience but still have the safety net of the institution that they are learning in.
trade apprenticeships are falling here and it looks likely that there will be a short fall in the future very soon in certain trades. I believe that trades are not concieved in this country to be worthwhile, whether that is financial or just misrepersentation I do not know.
Your idea for Mr and Mrs Bloggs sounds good.
I can understand the, 'that it would not be an incentive not to get married.' and it is a good point.
Perhaps people could be employed to house sit peoples places, not sure how that would work though. As in when Mrs Bloggs was over at Mr Bloggs then Mrs Bloggs house would be looked after by the house sitters.
What if the houses that were rented from the elderly were rented via a business called Elders Incorproated and this company would send out its memebrs a percentage of the rent and another percentage could be kept for maintainance. Not shares or stocks but money in the bank.
For those who wanted to get more involved then they would work in that company as well as apprentices who would do the upkeep on the buildings or renovaitions.
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