To solve the housing crisis, changes are required on several fronts:
Planning
Requiring a change of use if someone wants to use a house for non-permanent housing purposes.
Bringing holiday lets and second homes back into permanent use by restricting current use to present owners. eg, if the property was sold or a different member of the owning family took over, the house would have to be used for permanent residential use.
Ensuring that planning proposals are appropriate to meet local housing needs – by excluding luxury housing for example.
Housing
Building housing specifically for rent.
Bringing in rent controls.
Removing the buy-to-let option for owners.
Other
Developers and estate agents should be restricted in advertising housing where it would lead to housing being sold outside the local area.
