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Good Society > Published by Guest, May 31st 2011 at 1:22 pm

How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation”

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By Jenny Jones AM, leader of the Green Party on the London Assembly

Margaret ThatcherA new report published by the Commission on Living Standards found that in 1988, 58% of so-called “squeezed middle” households where the head was under 35 owned their home, 27% rented from a social landlord and 14% from a private landlord.

In 2008, 41% rented from a private landlord, 30% rented from a social landlord and 29% owned their home.

These startling figures add to the dark picture of prospects for Britain’s low-to-middle income youth. Flat lining wages, bad job prospects and high housing costs all featured in the Annual London Survey published earlier this week as top concerns for Londoners.

I was aware of these issues, but those figures really took me by surprise. I grew up in a council house and saw the birth of Margaret Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” of the 1980s herald the slow death of social housing – now given the final death blow by this government’s cut for all future social housing building.

So I was amazed to discover that CLG figures show the number of home owners in London actually falling slightly from 2005-2007 (as far as the records go). Property-owning journalists and politicians are living at the end of a different era to their priced out children and grandchildren.

These cheerleaders of house price rises have been slow to wake up to the impact on the next generation, leaving them with housing costs that are 74 per cent higher than 25 years ago according to first direct.

In London the cost of buying a home rose twice as fast as incomes in the noughties, while our social housing stock was sold off faster than we could build it up. Decades of bad policy came home to roost, and it was younger people that suffered the most.

In a generation or two the “property owning democracy” has been turned on its head, with home ownership giving way to private renting. The market won’t build enough homes to solve the problem with supply, and the government and mayor of London are unwilling to either build lots of new council homes or fix underlying problems with the dysfunctional market. They seem happy to let the private rented sector pick up the slack.

But while the Institute for Public Policy Research and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have produced useful work on mortgage arrangements and housing supply, they pay less attention to the realities for people stuck renting privately.

The government and mayor of London are consigning younger Londoners to a sector characterised by income-busting price rises, insecure tenancy and no rights to make their home their own. That’s why most people want to own a home – retirement, security and freedom. Another recent opinion poll found that 90 per cent of young people wouldn’t be happy if they rented for the whole of their lives.

Too many private rented homes are also in terrible condition, with 40 per cent in London failing the fairly basic Decent Homes standard in 2006. Tenants sometimes complain that if they ask landlords for improvements they are evicted in retaliation.

The London Assembly Planning and Housing Committee investigation is looking into the problem of poor condition private rented housing over the summer. We hope to come up with action that the mayor and others can take to rectify this appalling situation.

The people most likely to be stuck in non-decent housing are at the bottom end of the squeezed middle, in receipt of housing benefits. For people under 35 the government is about to  make their life even harder by only giving them enough housing benefit for a room in a shared house. The ceiling used to be 25, which was already unjust, but the idea that a 34 year old person wouldn’t want a home of their own is insulting.

Rather than build more housing that average Londoners can actually afford, the mayor and government focus on building a trickle of “shared ownership” homes. Rather than pull down the  benefit bill with affordable council homes, they take money off insecure private tenants based on a web of myths and half-truths.

My happy childhood in a council house, and the home ownership dreams of my peers, are but a folk memory for young people today. The ‘jilted generation’ are right to cry foul, and it’s time more politicians listened to them.

  • http://twitter.com/richopenshaw/status/75538546148126720 Richard Openshaw

    RT @leftfootfwd: How Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turned sour for today's "jilted http://t.co/NCwDtya

  • http://twitter.com/paulstpancras/status/75538566192697346 paulstpancras

    How Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turned sour for today: http://bit.ly/kcpFYs writes @GreenJennyJones

  • http://twitter.com/balachmor/status/75538607414312961 Iain Carson

    How Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turned sour for today: http://bit.ly/kcpFYs writes @GreenJennyJones

  • http://twitter.com/tom_chance/status/75538735122493440 Tom Chance

    How Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turned sour for today's "jilted generation" | Left Foot Forward http://bit.ly/mIv7rF

  • http://twitter.com/darrenjohnsonam/status/75539598855520256 Darren Johnson

    How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation” http://bit.ly/m1oLVT #housing

  • http://twitter.com/andrewtmj/status/75540760388308992 ANDREW JENNINGS

    How Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turned sour for today: http://bit.ly/kcpFYs writes @GreenJennyJones

  • http://twitter.com/tom_chance/status/75541377877942272 Tom Chance

    @shivmalik1 @Jilted_G comment on the housing jilted generation by @GreenJennyJones http://bit.ly/mIv7rF

  • http://twitter.com/bloodydemocracy/status/75546615095627777 Bloody Democracy

    How Thatcher's “property owning democracy” turned sour for today's “jilted … http://bit.ly/jHuCoJ

  • http://twitter.com/glatomchance/status/75549302868545536 Tom Chance (work)

    @Shelter article on end of the "property owning democracy" for London's jilted generation by Jenny Jones AM – http://bit.ly/mIv7rF

  • http://twitter.com/therightarticle/status/75551747103404033 Michael

    How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation” I Jenny Jones – http://j.mp/iKzoiX

  • http://twitter.com/unitonehifi/status/75552760401100800 chris star

    How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation”
    http://j.mp/iKzoiX

  • http://twitter.com/sajeraj/status/75554846501122049 Samir Jeraj

    How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation” http://bit.ly/m1oLVT #housing

  • http://twitter.com/harrytgtaylor/status/75555368855539712 Harry Taylor

    How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation” I Jenny Jones – http://j.mp/iKzoiX

  • http://twitter.com/veganpanda/status/75557527005306880 Vegan Panda

    How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation” I Jenny Jones – http://j.mp/iKzoiX

  • http://twitter.com/shelter/status/75565391329501185 Shelter

    @Shelter article on end of the "property owning democracy" for London's jilted generation by Jenny Jones AM – http://bit.ly/mIv7rF

  • http://twitter.com/benreevelewis/status/75566038804205568 Ben Reeve-Lewis

    @Shelter article on end of the "property owning democracy" for London's jilted generation by Jenny Jones AM – http://bit.ly/mIv7rF

  • http://twitter.com/thegreenparty/status/75568181556686848 The Green Party

    How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation” – by @GreenJennyJones – http://bit.ly/mP1DhC #housing

  • http://twitter.com/osheagreen/status/75568797255344128 OShea Green

    How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation” – by @GreenJennyJones – http://bit.ly/mP1DhC #housing

  • Andrea Shaw

    RT @leftfootfwd: How Thatcher's 'property owning democracy' turned sour for today's 'jilted generation' http://t.co/386evS8

  • http://twitter.com/edgeofkhaos/status/75570776971030530 Steve James

    How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation” – by @GreenJennyJones – http://bit.ly/mP1DhC #housing

  • http://twitter.com/shivmalik1/status/75571354979676160 shiv malik

    How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation” – by @GreenJennyJones – http://bit.ly/mP1DhC #housing

  • http://twitter.com/learning4hsg/status/75576792009801728 learning4housing

    How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation” – by @GreenJennyJones – http://bit.ly/mP1DhC #housing

  • http://twitter.com/greenjennyjones/status/75578479277645824 Jenny Jones

    Apologies. Depressing reading. Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turns sour 4 London's jilted generation http://bit.ly/mIv7rF #housing

  • http://twitter.com/laughingnoam/status/75579048616673280 The Cat

    Apologies. Depressing reading. Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turns sour 4 London's jilted generation http://bit.ly/mIv7rF #housing

  • http://twitter.com/p_redorchid/status/75579429715324928 Patty

    How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation” – by @GreenJennyJones – http://bit.ly/mP1DhC #housing

  • http://twitter.com/corrugation/status/75590996049666049 Dave Miller

    RT @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/bOiYANm

  • http://twitter.com/southwarkgp/status/75591683189903361 Southwark Greens

    Jenny Jones on young people being priced out of housing and probs with renting privately in London – http://bit.ly/mIv7rF

  • http://twitter.com/deblord1/status/75594189777285121 Deb Lord

    How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation” – by @GreenJennyJones – http://bit.ly/mP1DhC #housing

  • http://twitter.com/agostinosbabe/status/75596309347840000 Julie Wheeler

    RT @leftfootfwd: How Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turned sour for today's "jilted http://t.co/HpoWmL2

  • http://twitter.com/adasta18/status/75598854917066754 Adasta

    Apologies. Depressing reading. Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turns sour 4 London's jilted generation http://bit.ly/mIv7rF #housing

  • http://twitter.com/dannyanarchy/status/75612594634899456 Danny Anarchy

    Apologies. Depressing reading. Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turns sour 4 London's jilted generation http://bit.ly/mIv7rF #housing

  • Billy Blofeld

    Ha! Ha! Good use of the word “Thatcher”, the most powerful bait known to man. Guaranteed to get the comrades Re-Tweeting.

    Whilst lefties fight and re-fight the elections of the 1980′s…. the rest of us get on with our lives.

  • http://twitter.com/razzclean/status/75615904079167488 robert woodland

    Apologies. Depressing reading. Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turns sour 4 London's jilted generation http://bit.ly/mIv7rF #housing

  • Anon E Mouse

    I don’t suppose the tax avoiding property millionaire who hasn’t done a single days work in his life and inherited wealth from his socialist father won’t be affected. Or the Countess Toff, Harriet Harman who gave him is first “job”.

    Ed Miliband and his Primrose Hill set need to realise that during Labour’s 13 years in government house building sank to an all time low and this is the result.

    Thanks for that Labour…

  • http://twitter.com/cllrlwakefield/status/75629604500549633 Cllr Liz Wakefield

    How Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turned sour for today: http://bit.ly/kcpFYs writes @GreenJennyJones

  • http://twitter.com/joabbess/status/75631081520504832 jo abbess

    Apologies. Depressing reading. Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turns sour 4 London's jilted generation http://bit.ly/mIv7rF #housing

  • Ivan Thomas

    So what’s the answer?
    Behind the Tory mask and the Labour mask is the same fucking face.
    And the same boot stamping on our faces forever.

  • Dave Citizen

    Billy – to “get on with our lives” I recommend we all vote for Ed Milliband. He seems to be the only mainstream politician who understands that extreme wealth inequality is at the root of many of Britain’s problems including this one. It is extreme inequality that has created the crazy situation where hard working, productive people can’t afford to buy a decent home but instead have to pay inflated rents to people who have inherited hundreds of them! Turning property into investment assets, often with contractual rent escalators, pushes up the cost of labour, undermining our wider productive economy.
    More and more people are waking up to the fact that our country has been bought up to serve the interests of a tiny few. Fixing our economy will require undoing extreme inequality and who better to do it than Ed??

  • Rory

    England has nothing more to offer un-privileged citizens anymore(most youth under 35). Could there be a mass Ireland style emigration? I can’t be bothered with England anymore. I don’t demand or expect everything from the state, but I do expect a decent standard of living. It’s ok for the spoiled past generations to tell us to ‘shut up and stop whining’. They had it all! Cheap housing, cheap rentals, benefits, healthcare, dentistry, affordable transport, affordable cars (without the impossible amount of costly restrictions and tests introduced year on year), free education, libraries… Try being 21 on a low income, paying off student debt and trying to find any meaningful employment. They would be whining as loud as anyone else.

  • Christopher Queen
  • http://twitter.com/leigh_thompson/status/75673386478616576 Leigh Thompson

    RT @leftfootfwd: How Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turned sour for today's "jilted http://t.co/kdzuwKg

  • mr. Sensible

    Mr Mouse, your comment shows the contradictions of the Tories; on the 1 hand house building was too slow, but on the other it was too fast and the targets were scrapped because our green spaces were under threat. Which is it?

    The fact is that Right to Buy has left our social housing in a complete state.

  • Tom White

    I see Anon E Bore is here again: building wasn’t slowed down by Tory nimbys by any chance was it? And why is there no social housing in any case? And does your government give a shit about the poor anyway?

    If you’re going to troll, make it better…

  • http://twitter.com/monkeyonahill/status/75787982992445441 James Tryand

    RT @leftfootfwd: How Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turned sour for today's "jilted http://t.co/kdzuwKg

  • Anon E Mouse

    Mr Sensible – Do you advocate a society where people don’t have the right to own their own property?

    Despite every country in the world scrapping the idea it seems the desire for socialism hasn’t gone away.

    Not that Ed Miliband with his millionaire lifestyle would be affected by it….

  • Anon E Mouse

    Tom White – So as usual when confronted with the truth Labour activists display the same traits.

    1. Blame someone else for the mistake. Global financial crisis was all the bankers fault.
    2. Deny there is a problem. There is no deficit that needs to be sorted out.
    3. Smear and discredit the individual. Gillian Duffy is a bigot.

    So far you have managed all three traits in just one post. Well done Tom Shite…

  • http://twitter.com/myinfamy/status/75899452556181504 Daniel Pitt

    How Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turned sour for today: http://bit.ly/kcpFYs #ConDemNation

  • http://twitter.com/darrenjohnsonam/status/75936233850806272 Darren Johnson

    Incase you missed it @greenjennyjones on generation rent & the property crises @LeftFootForward http://bit.ly/m1oLVT #housing

  • http://twitter.com/younggreenparty/status/75937457534799872 Young Greens

    Incase you missed it @greenjennyjones on generation rent & the property crises @LeftFootForward http://bit.ly/m1oLVT #housing

  • BenM

    Anon E Mouse

    Typical Tory.

    Get challenged on your set of narrow prejudices then move the goalposts.

    1. Whose was it then? Gordon Brown’s?
    2. Strawman. No one denies need to tackle deficit. We just don’t think squandering a quarterly growth rate of 1.1% like Osborne has is good way of doing it.
    3. Oh Please. Only Labour smear and discredit? Look at all the Tory tabloids and websites that shill for you. Look at the current campaign to get Chris Huhne! Anyone not toeing the Tory line is pilloried by your side. The drive for purity on the Right is Stalinesque.

  • Anon E Mouse

    BenM –

    Typical New Labour lickspittle.

    Get challenged on the truth and resort to smearing – well done.

    1. Gordon Brown ran a deficit in this country since 2002 – how was that the bankers fault?
    2. Er Ed Balls seems to.
    3. Tory tabloids are not directly employed as servants of the people. The government are and I expect better behaviour from elected officials – not lies that lead to the war in Iraq for example.

    What worries me is that you seem quite happy to accept the very criticisms I mention without wanting an honest political party that represents the demographic it claims it supports.

    Why don’t you want a positive Labour Party BenM because it’s pretty clear you don’t….

  • http://twitter.com/scott_redding/status/76243512877780992 Scott Redding

    Incase you missed it @greenjennyjones on generation rent & the property crises @LeftFootForward http://bit.ly/m1oLVT #housing

  • http://twitter.com/pricedoutuk/status/76254768988823553 PricedOut

    Good to see the London Greens are pushing for rental reforms – London renting is £ eyewatering & insecure http://tinyurl.com/3dlonce

  • http://twitter.com/j4cksincl4ir/status/76254827432259585 Jack Sinclair

    Good to see the London Greens are pushing for rental reforms – London renting is £ eyewatering & insecure http://tinyurl.com/3dlonce

  • http://twitter.com/glatomchance/status/76261933615038464 Tom Chance (work)

    Good to see the London Greens are pushing for rental reforms – London renting is £ eyewatering & insecure http://tinyurl.com/3dlonce

  • http://twitter.com/j4cksincl4ir/status/76262401258962944 Jack Sinclair

    RT @leftfootfwd: How Thatcher's "property owning democracy"; turned sour for today's "jilted generation" http://t.co/GFJFn3L

  • http://twitter.com/rowenahay/status/76263778018279424 Rowena Hay

    Good to see the London Greens are pushing for rental reforms – London renting is £ eyewatering & insecure http://tinyurl.com/3dlonce

  • http://twitter.com/tractiveeffort/status/76311826761121793 DJ

    Apologies. Depressing reading. Thatcher's "property owning democracy" turns sour 4 London's jilted generation http://bit.ly/mIv7rF #housing

  • http://twitter.com/puffles2010/status/76702428900245504 The Dragon Fairy

    Incase you missed it @greenjennyjones on generation rent & the property crises @LeftFootForward http://bit.ly/m1oLVT #housing

  • http://twitter.com/greegreece/status/77597693114986496 Tony Thomas

    How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation” http://bit.ly/k0VK5a

  • http://twitter.com/laraoyedele/status/77653986857070592 Lara Oyedele

    RT@GreenJennyJones How Thatcher’s "property owning democracy" turned sour 4 today’s “jilted generation” http://bit.ly/mP1DhC

  • http://twitter.com/glatomchance/status/81010323682889728 Tom Chance (work)
  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/11/margaret-thatcher-was-every-bit-as-bad-as-we-remember/ Thatcher was every bit as bad as we remember | Left Foot Forward

    [...] also: • How Thatcher’s “property owning democracy” turned sour for today’s “jilted generation” - May 31st [...]

  • http://twitter.com/joanmcalpine/status/140360377484574720 Joan McAlpine

    Excellent @leftfootfwdpiece by London Green leader on "jilted generation" who rent privately. http://t.co/0pCbyqxs Scotland can do better

  • http://twitter.com/s7mac/status/140364581385158656 Sylvia McDonald

    Excellent @leftfootfwdpiece by London Green leader on "jilted generation" who rent privately. http://t.co/0pCbyqxs Scotland can do better

  • http://twitter.com/anguavonuber/status/140366163615031296 E’Liza Gedrych

    Excellent @leftfootfwdpiece by London Green leader on "jilted generation" who rent privately. http://t.co/0pCbyqxs Scotland can do better

  • http://twitter.com/twisterfilm/status/140411442368217088 Malcolm Clark

    Excellent @leftfootfwdpiece by London Green leader on "jilted generation" who rent privately. http://t.co/0pCbyqxs Scotland can do better

  • http://twitter.com/tom_chance/status/154552895264669697 Tom Chance

    @richardjgodwin e.g. http://t.co/mljTJGX6 which you might like

  • http://twitter.com/richardjgodwin/status/154563006834020352 Richard Godwin

    MT @tom_chance on Mayoral elections: @GreenJennyJones and @lawrencejwebb only new candidates and with different agendas http://t.co/Z08NqeHb