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    17 Reasons Your Rent Is Too High

    Ever feel like you're getting ripped off for the roof over your head? You're not alone. The average private renter spends 40% of their income on rent.

    1. Every Monday and Tuesday, you're working just to pay off your landlord’s mortgage

    2. And where's your landlord?

    3. It all started in the 80s

    4. When Margaret Thatcher sold off council houses she didn't build any more

    5. If you want a job the best place to look is the South East

    6. The sensible thing to do would be build more houses but planning restrictions stop the market responding to demand

    7. Falling supply of new houses has pushed up prices

    8. Rising prices attract investors who like things that go up in value

    9. Being richer than first time buyers, investors can afford to put down a larger deposit and outbid them

    10. Because they’ve paid so much for the house they pass the extra cost on to you

    11. But it's worth it: They now have a captive market of 4 million households

    12. Plus, landlords pay no tax on their mortgage interest and make 12 times what they put in

    13. And they get to claim 10% of income tax-free for repairs

    14. Contracts only last 12 months or less, meaning letting agents have regular opportunities to raise the rent

    15. And because letting agent fees make it expensive to move, it is even easier to rinse you

    16. Politicians won’t take action unless they think you’ll vote for it

    17. The good news is there are now 9 million of us