hmmm - maybe I should have said investors have more access to money that is readily available, so can move quicker to buy than others ?
I don’t think saying the market is broken is actually "farcical " if by your logic - which I agree with by the way - there isn’t enough supply for the demand, make more supply would perhaps bring down prices , maybe thats not in everybody’s interest that has "skin in the game " though 
Only if you equate the desire for a Mercedes with the right to decent, secure housing. As you say. Daft.
Actually a lot of investors are moving towards commercial as am I. Residential is aggravation as generally entitled tenants with the above attitude think it is their God given right to live in a landlords house. Therefore it’s acceptable to trash it or not pay the rent if they are skint.
I in some ways would love too see their behaviour in a home ownership situation. I bet it changes somewhat.
There’s definitely a supply problem but ultimately that’s because of uncertainty around Brexit.
I agree in the south of England the market has gone silly. The only place I agree with your sentiment about investors is london though. We have all the Russians and wealthy immigrants buying up houses and them sat empty but we are talking the upper end of the market which incidentally 99.9% of buyers can’t afford regardless. We are talking houses for the super rich.
The run of the mill stuff just isn’t being bought up by investors as much as you might think.
I have a property business as well dealing in sales and lettings. Last year I would say only 10% of my sales in a City were to investors. Most were owner occupiers and I would say lions share were to first time buyers.
He might be blunt but @StuartK has touched a valid point.
When I was saving for a house I cut back on absolutely everything and worked my fingers to the bones. I walked everywhere, had no phone contact, didn’t go out much etc etc. Every penny I could save or make I ploughed into savings. I’ll admit it wasn’t the best few years of my life but I knew it would pay off in the end and that’s what kept me going.
Some people now feel that cars, phone contracts, TV subscriptions, 50" TVs and all the latest tech are essential these days and wouldn’t be seen dead without them. I know this because we discussed all of this in another topic on these forums.
So it does make me wonder, has the market really changed or have peoples attitude changed?
My parents have been landlords since before I was born and I have never heard of that actually happening. Contacts help I guess stop these situations or at least support the landlords.
I’ll repeat what I said. Owning a home always has been a luxury not a right. Just like owning a nice car is a luxury not a right.
I bought my first house aged 22. I had a 10% deposit. I was earning around £27k at the time so not a huge amount of money and I had £700 per month rent to pay at the time plus bills, plus car, plus everything else.
I managed it. But I sacrificed to do it. It was hard but 8 years later I’m in a very good position.
The pain will be worth it. But like I say not everyone will be able to buy that’s just life.
not too sure about that I think the pendulum of power has swung to the tennant really , maybe your parents have “just” been lucky ?
Having been in court for unpaid rent with a tenant they most certainly don’t favour the landlord. It’s rate I’ll admit but it does happen. Probably less so in the south. I’m in the Midlands.
Ah I am in an area west of London.
This is often down to landlords having such high rents which trap people into not being able to save and therefore stuck in rented accommodation.
Luckily I will be able to buy in a couple years but i’m 21 living with my parents (so I pay a low rent as they want me to be able to move out) on a good salary for my age and I started saving at 16. I dont think buying a house should be restricted to people with a decent job and extreme financial planning but maybe that’s just me
Maybe? I think it’s the area and the houses we rent out helping.
Wow! That is amazing I am 19 and still haven’t thought of saving for a house. I do have some money put away for after I graduate though to help I guess. Old pocket money win!
not too sure the supply and demand problem has only happened in the last 2 1/2 years since the ref - I agree it probably hasn’t helped , but there are far more reasons that supply is being held back .
I built houses and my experience was that 50% of my sales were to investors , different markets, I suppose we have different views from them
Rent is driven by supply and demand so unfortunately no rents aren’t too high. It’s basic economics as per sale prices.
The advantage I gained from having two financially savvy parents! Told me to start saving early and it seems to have worked out for me
I’d agree to an extent but when supply and demand means that people on local wages can’t afford to rent houses in their area then something is wrong. Landlords should have to balance rent on supply and demand plus the local jobs market, so that local people aren’t priced out when people from areas with higher house prices and rents are forced to move
I will probably move to London and rent forever until parents leave money in will or something. Law degree will help me I am sure.
Well unfortunately there are more people that can afford to rent or the demand wouldn’t be there at those levels of rent.
I find this hard to believe so forgive me for possibly being naive.
If I was selling a product and kept increasing the price to the point that people were struggling to afford it, then I wouldn’t be in business long. Surely this is a risky game for any landlord to play because the higher they go the smaller their target market becomes and the harder/longer is for them to find a tenant. Who could then jump ship at the end of their contract starting the whole process again with another chunk of their target market lost.
Don’t they just want long term, loyal tenants that will cover their mortgage?
Exactly this. Standard economics.
The argument just isn’t there it’s just that youngsters think home ownership is a right. I’ll repeat again it’s a luxury not a right.