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Surveying the overpriced UK property market, it's easy (and correct) to blame the lenders of 125% mortgages and other disasters-waiting-to -happen. But is it at all possible that the UK building industry should also be sharing a large slice of humble pie? After all, to sustain year-on-year profit growth, the construction giants have to keep jacking up prices and lowering standards (size of rooms, quality of materials etc). It was their decision, based on marketing data, to build thousands of one-bedroom flats - not much good for young couples wanting to start a family but great for buy-to-let landlords. The needs of first-time buyers could be best addressed as follows:- * A concerted programme of council house-building, with the end product ringfenced forever from private speculators, predators and wideboys masquerading as businessmen. * The UK planning system sometimes restricts the supply of building land and therefore needs overhauling. The public interest should come first. Of course, that would require strong, honest politicians..... * Let's have a look at housing policy in more progressive economies such as Scandinavia, Germany etc. * Some first-time buyers have unrealistically high material expectations - they expect designer homes in swish neighbourhoods, without the needs to start small, in a less salubrious locality. All part of the "buy now, pay later" culture.

over 100,000 for one bedroom flats . I think its the pot calling the kettle black.