How do we fix the housing crisis? Welcome to The i Paper’s opinion series, in which our writers share their experiences of the UK’s dysfunctional housing system and examine how we can fix it.
The scandal of England’s one million empty homesMiddle class, middle aged – and secretly homelessThere’s nothing attractive about being a landlord anymoreThe UK’s new rental scandal that no one is talking aboutIt’s raining inside my leasehold flat – I can’t fix it or sell it
Those on the right bang on and on about shirkers and scroungers draining the public purse. During the local election, a journalist friend in the Midlands heard a Tory candidate tell potential voters that those on benefits “only want to take, take, take”. Those gathered, most of whom she said were pensioners, cheered. She talked to some of them after the hustings. All praised the man for “saying it as it is”.
The vast majority of retirees believe they are the deserving ones when it comes to state support. The truth is we too take, take, take. Few older citizens believe we have obligations to society. Or that in hard times, we should do our bit.
Most seniors fiercely maintain that pensions must be eternally protected from the effects of political and economic vicissitudes. They paid National Insurance and “worked hard”, and so must get their due. That position is non-negotiable. I confess this mindset baffles and, at times, maddens me. It reinforces the stereotype of the inflexible, cross, suspicious oldie. We are better than this. Not thinking of others whilst expecting our needs to be fulfilled leads us to a lonely cul-de-sac.
