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From a purely HPC point of view (and by that I mean the provision of quality, affordable, no-strings housing to buy, not necessarily a collapse in prices across the board...) who should we be rooting for when the election happens in May? My take on it having had a quick skim over their housing policies:- Conservative: + arguably accomplished more since 2010 than Labour managed in their years in power. There seems to be an increase in newbuild affordable housing and planning restrictions have been relaxed. + Possible vote on the EU has the potential to limit immigration (which is a big strain on housing) - Unikely to do anything about landlords. - Help to Buy is a disaster waiting to happen once interest becomes payable after the initial five years has finished. - Cannot rule out them spending a lot more public money on propping up this whole thing... Labour: + In theory, provision of low-cost, quality housing should, in theory, be a priority + Better rights for private tenants might discourage BTL. + Mansion Tax? - absolutely no commitment to reducing immigration (no EU referendum) - awful track record in this department. Libdems: + In theory, provision of low-cost, quality housing should, in theory, be a priority... + want to build "300,000 homes a year" + Increased rights for private tenants - No real chance of getting elected - Immigration (Committed to the EU) UKIP: + Limits on immigration likely after leaving the EU, relieving some pressure on housing - NIMBY-friendly policies - Committed to protecting the "green belt" Greens: + "Disincentives to the speculative ownership of housing will be introduced, including higher rates of Council Tax for unoccupied properties and second homes" + Private sector "needs to have rents controlled and tenants provided with additional legal protection." - Pretty much an open door immigration policy. - Minimise the encroachment onto undeveloped "greenfield" sites - "To hold back all new development on agricultural land or other land not at present within the confines of an urban (including village) area." Who is the best of this bad bunch? :-/