| |
Priced out of town
• I READ with great amazement and shock the news that Emily Thornberry’s husband had bought a former housing association property and then rented it out to “youngsters”, among whom happen to be her two Labour employees in Islington.
There are many young people, including myself, who would like to live in Islington but are unable to do so due to the extortionate house prices.
Surely, if Ms Thornberry is serious about affordable housing being a priority in Islington she should be facilitating cheap housing for everyone?
ZAFAR ABBAS NAQUVI
School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1
• A FEW months ago a friend of mine wrote to Emily Thornberry pointing out that Islington‘s housing problems are exacerbated by rich people buying up properties to let, thereby inflating house prices and reducing the stock available for council tenants.
Emily’s reply contained general comments on the shortage of housing but didn’t answer the specific question of multiple ownership by the wealthy.
Now that the Tribune has revealed Emily and her husband own numerous properties, we understand why she ignored the specific issue raised in my friend’s letter.
TRICIA PEEL
Hemingford Road, N1
• EMILY Thornberry is remarkably blasé about her change in role from that of champion for more social housing to buy-to-let landlord.
With house prices running at 13 times the average salaries in London, you need to be bringing in nearly £87,000 a year to get a mortgage. Not surprising then that 70 per cent of all those new private developer flats going up all over London (as well as many of the existing ones) are being grabbed up by buy-to-let investors.
Buy-to-let contributes to the escalation in house prices and the country’s housing crisis – something which Emily claims to be concerned about.
It has become such a cause for concern that even the National Housing and Planning Advice Agency (sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government) has, seemingly under pressure, ordered a probe into the issue.
Oh, and isn’t Emily a member of the Communities and Local Government Committee?
PHIL COSGRAVE
Finsbury estate, EC1
|
 |
|
| |
| Your Comments : |
| |
| |
| |
