Rent freeze

Press, 7 June 1983, Page 20

Rent freeze

Sir,—A. J. Roberts (June 2) queries my call for more State involvement in this present housing crisis, which, depending on yOur political outlook, either exists or does not. There is, I believe, a role for both State and private enterprise in providing rental accommodation, as well as private home ownership, and each sector has a role to play in determining the balance of society—i.e. either we provide homes for all at a price each individual can afford, or else we house those who can afford to pay the price demanded, regardless of social costs. Over a period, State houses have been sold to individuals without being totally replaced by the State, so now we see a lack of competitiveness in the markfs place, as those with private

rental accommodation can now, by regulation, raise the price of their rental accommodation, if they can prove hardship, while those in the unemployment oueues, or those lucky enough to be in work, have, themselves, had to bear rises in costs without any increase in remuneration.—Yours, etc., PETER W. KENNEDY. June 2, 1983.