Former prime minister Liz Truss was joined by property commentator and former estate agency owner Russell Quirk in the latest episode of her show to examine the drivers of the UK housing crisis and the impact of government policy across both major parties.
Quirk, a Reform UK councillor, argues that recent and proposed policy changes – including tax measures, regulatory requirements and the Renters’ Reform agenda – are contributing to landlord exits from the private rented sector. He says this is reducing available supply and placing upward pressure on rents.
The discussion covers a range of policy and market factors affecting the housing system, including:
- The Renters Reform Bill and EPC requirements
- The impact of government intervention on pricing and demand
- The effect of Help to Buy on demand-side stimulation versus supply constraints
- The Bank of England’s monetary policy and asset price inflation
- Barriers to home ownership for younger buyers
- The role of Homes England and the Climate Change Committee in shaping housing policy
- The relationship between immigration, demand and housing supply
- Perceived shortcomings in housing delivery by successive governments
The episode also touches on wider political and institutional themes, including sentiment towards landlords, the influence of local planning decisions, and whether housing policy is being shaped more by short-term political considerations than long-term supply solutions. It also references upcoming local elections in Essex and beyond as a potential indicator of voter attitudes.
The conversation centres on why affordability pressures in the UK housing market continue to persist, and where responsibility lies across policy, regulation and monetary conditions.
Both Labour and Conservative policies are argued to have contributed to worsening conditions.
Quirk told EYE: “It was pretty surreal to be asked to be interviewed by a former British Prime Minister on housing and particularly the effect of the Renters Rights Act.
“Inevitably, we wandered into politics in light of the impending elections on Thursday but, of course, property is political.
“The upshot? Politicians are awful at anything housing related.”
Comments (8)
What does AI reckon to this woft?
*Oh good. The man who pays quiet homage to Michael Fabricant and the woman who voluntarily ended the low rate economy have formed a podcast.*
*Between them they’ve identified the problem with British housing policy.*
*This is a bit like getting the captain of the Titanic and the iceberg together to discuss maritime safety.*
*They conclude that politicians are bad at housing. Revolutionary stuff. I imagine the research took minutes.*
*Apparently the solution involves fewer regulations, more landlords, and presumably more Shredded Wheat.*
*The leaking pipes — the friction, the delays, the opacity baked into the transaction process that quietly destroys value while everyone argues about the tap — didn’t come up.*
*Funny that.*
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Paste that to EYE and see what Quirk comes back with.
i saw the first film, dumb & dumber
Quirky has a few points that are relevant but things seem to be going from bad to worse with Truss’s intervention & our dear friend to all Angie poking their snouts into property aspects.
Wouldn’t trust either as their “professional” record says it all.
Surely only viewable in a multiplex cinema?
Otherwise how would both ego’s fit on the screen.
Curb your jealousy.
Anyhow, it would be an iMax not a multiplex
I thought Russell was absolutely ‘ Spot-on ‘ well done.
Reform are right about nobody in Govt with business experience – running who who damn country and mis-managing its finances through lack of acumen.
Ego’s really? Both have failed spectacularly in their chosen careers!
*”While I’m at it — doesn’t Matt Faizey know that the sucker punch for a narcissist is silence? Every reply… a gift. I don’t think it’s even his birthday.”*