Quote Originally Posted by jon1959 View Post
I don't think the fall in owner occupation is anything to do with your bundle of 'conspiracy ?' plots.

The biggest factor is cash rich buy-to-let landlords squeezing out first time buyers who have seen the cost of homes skyrocket whilst their wages have been stagnant or fallen. Other factors too - but from 70.9 of all homes being owner occupied in 2003, it has now fallen to 64.3% (was 62.6% in 2016). Not a problem if that is part of a mixed and affordable housing stock that meets needs - but it isn't.

At the same time social renting (mostly Council and Housing Association) has fallen to its lowest in a century at 16.6%. Private renting is up to around 19-20% of the total stock of homes. A big chunk of those privately rented homes are ex Council Right To Buys that have been sold on and ended up with private landlords who typically (in London and some other big cities) charge 3 times the rent of an identical retained Council home - either adding to homelessness (some of it hidden) or to the national housing benefit bill. As with low wages, bad employers and bad landlords are subsidised via the Treasury by the rest of us.

So not 15 minutes cities, the end of cash, or Bill Gates chips floating in our latest vaccine shot - just under regulated capitalism where the rich get richer and the majority just try to stay afloat.
Nearly every flat being built in Cardiff city centre now is buy to let. They will never go on open sale.

It's an absolute disgrace, a total scandal and the welsh government and council sit back and watch. Appalling