Sir, – If Bill Callaghan believes that media analysis of our housing problems has been very poor (August 5th) I can only suggest that he has been in hibernation for the last couple of years.
Media scrutiny from every angle of the equation has been intense and no stone has been left unturned in the desire to find a new perspective on every situation pertaining to this issue. If there is a gap, it is in consideration of the position of the much maligned landlord.
The latest measure being mooted in various circles appears to that of rent control. You cannot squeeze landlords from every angle – with property taxes, PRTB charges, annual maintenance charges, management and running costs, as well as reduced tax breaks, owning rental property is far from an attractive option in the current climate. Mr Callaghan talks about “vested interests” in high house prices. Perhaps these are the landlords who are queuing up to get out of the market as soon as their negative equity disappears.
One of the reasons we have housing crises is that the squeeze on landlords has made rental property an unattractive proposition, thereby ultimately reducing the supply to the rental market which would have kept rental prices low. It will eventually dawn on someone that responsible landlords are the solution, not the problem. – Yours, etc,
GEOFF SCARGILL,
Loreto Grange,
Bray,
Co Wicklow